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352
TILAKAMANJARI OF DHANAPĀLA
of his heart in a bower of cardamom creepers, feel an attachment for her at first sight, lose her sight on reciprocal attachment, meet her again through Malayasundarī, meet Gandharvaka brought back to the state of a human being by the scarf named Nisītha and ultimately to meet her again through the boon of Śrī after having separated from her under pressure of past memories. ___ 'आसादितः कोऽपि तत्रान्यत्र वा राजपुत्र्यास्तिलकमर्याः पाणिग्रहणसमुचितो राजपुत्रः" this query made by Samaraketu from Gandharvaka illustrates the point of despatch of couriers for the search of suitable match for certain category of maiden as for example, Gandharvaka was sent by Patralekhā to search out a prince for the princess Tilakamañjarī who having got Harivāhana for her consort, has Samaraketu introduced to her by the latter who describes him as the self-chosen consort of her sister MaLayasundari being the son of Candraketu, the illustrious lord of the island of Simhalas. Tāraka's entreaties to Malayasundarī to rescue the life of Samaraketu on the very first sight contains the idea of self-choice in so far as he says -
___'बिभेषि भाविनो व्यसनात्, अपेक्षसे जनतः साधुवादम्, इच्छसि कनकपट्टबन्धम्, तद्विलासिनि, माविधेहि द्विधा रूपम्, आश्रय स्वयंवरपथम्"
"उन्मुखदृशस्तस्य कन्धरायामधिरोपिता स्वहस्तेन दिव्या स्वयंवरकुसुममाला यथा च तिलकक्रियानन्तरमेव केनापि हेतुना समुपजाताच्चित्तविप्लवात्'" refers to the act of putting the garland on the neck along with the application of the forehead mark.
"कृतशिरोवगुण्ठना तस्य नृपकुमारस्यां कपर्यंकादेकदेशे कमलिनीपलाशशयनस्योपाविशम्"5 refers to the traditional custom of wearing a veil on occasions of feeling some sense of reverence on the part of the wife towards her husband; otherwise the veil-bearing on the face was not a custom rigidly adhered to by women in their regular marital relations and family life.
"कालान्तरे च सकलवरगुणोपेतेन निर्व्याजसुहृदा महाराजतनयेन गत्वा त्वया गृहीतपाणिः क्रमाधिगतवृत्तान्तस्य पितुरपि परां प्रीतिमावहति। illustrates the point that in self choice even and in marital contrast, the virtues of the bridegroom were the foremost consideration. The Gāndharva
वरस्त्वदीयायाः
स्वसुर्मलयसुन्दर्याः
1. TM Vol. III p. 3. 2. सोऽयमखिलसिंहलद्वीपभर्तुर्महाराजचन्द्रकेतोरात्मजन्मा स्वयंवृतो
सकलवीरवर्गाग्रेसरो युवराज: समरकेतुः। TM Vol. III p. 124. 3. Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 285. 4. Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 310. 5. Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 313. 6. Ibid. Sm. ed. p. 326.
