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89
DHANAPĀLA AS A PROSE WRITER
words that she would certainly achieve her end in so far as her consort was likely to be a prince of great repute."
Deeming her a fatalist Malayasundari strikes a note of optimism by tickling her with words full of irony that since she thought her tie with him was destiny bound, he would listen to her words and would get out of the occan even if sunk deep into it."
Apart from being an affectionate friend she is also a faithful servant in so far as realising well the state of mind of Malayasundarf going against the wishes of her sire who was willing to marry her to Vajrayudha by way of a political wager in order to save his territory from the ravages of an onslaught, she tries to persuade her feeling thoroughly sympathetic towards the maintenance of the regnal autonomy of her master i.e. Kusumaśckhara. It is she who not finding Malayasundarl in her chamber runs to rescue her from strangulation by a noose which the latter had prepared to immolate. herself. It is she who called Samaraketu at that spot and got that noose cut off and ultimately requested him to lend her a helping hand in her final goal. Her self censure and laments on not finding Malayasundart in her chamber display her responsible character in life.3 As a go between she acts the role of a diplomat. Having shown due hospitality to Samaraketu, she requested. him to woo Malayasundarf since it was he who was responsible for that sorrowful state of committing self immolation. And when he replied that it was not possible to divulge that secret she felt a bit annoyed and tried to provoke the prince by giving a nod to Malayasundarf that she was going to do so.
'Princess! You acted most undesirably in so far as you did not take leave of your life even at the Primary separation from him and did not go mad and
1. भर्तृदारिके विदितं मया ते शोककारणम् । अनाकुलाऽऽस्स्व भविष्यत्यवश्यं तव तेन नरपतिसूनुना सह समागमप्राप्तिः ।
अवितथादेशो हि तत्रभवानार्यवसुरातः न तद्भाषितोऽर्थः कदाचिद्द्विसंवदति । Ibid. Sm ed. p. 295. LL. 6-8 L.D. Series ed. p. 172. para 246. LL. 21-23.
2. सखि ! किमेतेन तव चिन्तितेन । अद्यापि बहु चिन्तनीयमास्ते । यदि तावदवहितस्तस्य मद्वचनस्यार्थमवधारयिष्यति । gaf fug af ff TM. Sm. ed. p. 296. LL. 4-7. L.D Series
fa
ed. p. 173. para 247. LL. 3-6.
3. विगतलक्षणे बन्धुसुन्दरि ! जानत्यापि जीवितमुत्स्रष्टुकामा किमियमवधीरिता त्वया निर्गच्छन्ती धृता च किं न धावित्वा हठात्पृष्ठतो विमोहितया च संकटप्रासादकुट्यान्तरालपरिसर्पणेन कस्मान्न कोलाहलः कृतः । Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 308. LL. 5-8. L. D. Series ed. p. 179. para 265. LI. 30-31 p. 180 LLI.
4. महाभाग ! मदभिप्रायोण सत्यं महानर्थहेतुरस्यास्त्वम् । अत एव वायुक्तमुपकारोद्घट्टनं मया विहितम्। केवलं त्वदभिप्रायमाश्रित्य पृच्छाभि सर्व कालमन्तःपुरगतायाः स्वप्नेऽप्यजातपुरुषसंनिधेरधुनैव दृष्टः कथं महानर्थतेहुरस्याः
Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 315. LL. 19-22. L.D. Series ed p. 184. para 274. LL. 10-13.
