________________
104
Study of Civakacintamani
of the kāvya tradition :
vāta valattān malar ñálam matippin mikka nātāvat ihtām atan nan nalam con nalattår kūtat eninum cila kūralum vențum anre
pāțaviruntar poriy añcum pați yatanra I (This country is celebrated as the best country in the world by its ever flourishing nature. Though its fine features cannot be encompassed by (our) words (of praise), it is necessary to say a few things. Because, the one who leaves it unsung would suffer fearsome consequences.)
Tēvar has also described forests, mountains etc. and such natural phenomena as sunrise and moonrise, as laid down by Dandin. Though such descripions arise ovt of the mabakāvya tradition in Sanskrit, the way in which the fauna and flora are described is in accordance with the Tamil conventions. For example, the route taken by Civakan when he leaves Kēmacari is described, and Tēvar gives importance to the different kinds of landscapes. 2 Before Civakan meets Anankamāvīņai in the garden, he travels through four kinds of landscape. Here descriptions include all the landscapes mentioned in Tamil literature except Neytal (littoral). The landscape of all five kinds is also depicted in the Maņmakal ilampakam when describing the journey of Civakan to the country Vitēkam. The sunrise is described in verse 1406 and the moon rise in verse 1541.
In a few descriptions Tēvar has used almost exactly the same idea as found in Sanskrit poems. While describing the prosperity of Iracamāpuram, Tēvar borrows the exact incident from one of the verses in the Meghadüta of Kalidasa :
nivibandhocchvasitaśithilam yatra bimbadharānām kşaumam râgād onibhstakareșv akşipatsu priyeșu arcis tungan abhimukham api präpya ratnapradipān
hrimūdhānām bhavati viphalapreranā cūrņamuştih3 (Where the handful of powder flung by women having bimba (a kind of fruit) like lips and confused with shame when their garments, loosened by the untying of their knots, are snatched away by their husbands through passion with their quick moving hands, is flung in vain although it reaches the jewel lamps powerfully blazing with their flames.) 4
kar cunañ ceyta ton maintar katalàl nar cuņap pattutai parra nāņinär por cunattal viļakk avi p pap ponkiya
por cunam purampaņai tavalum por pirra 1 Nilakeci, v. 11. 2 Cc. vv 1556-1566. 3 Meghadüta, Uttara megha, v. 5. 4 Translated by Kale. Meghaduta edited by Kale, M, R, Bombay, 1916. 5 Cc, v, 91,
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
