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368
TILAKAMANJARĪ OF DHANAPĀLA
a presiding deity and seated on the surface of the ground with eyes steadfast pinioned on his face for a long time spoke to him with modesty-"Revered sir! This palace has been elevated to heights by you, the venerable of the group of sages having got down from the circle of the firmament like the current of Ganges from the mountain of Snow. Following on you have obviated the store of sins of the entire citizen folk the object of my grace, by the castings of glances as if by the sprays of water of propitiation, limpid and cold, having observed on all sides. At the time of obeisance, the fruit of ablutions on all the places of pilgrimage or holy places has been accomplished through the dust of your own feet naturally sanctified and placed on the head. And in this way I crave your special favour for myself being performed by the revered one for the attainment of the affluence of greater beneficence even though dawned upon me from all sides, with satisfaction still not obtained by me. This kingdom, this earth of mine, these articles, that external paraphernalia (or equipage) comprising mostly of elephants, horses, chariots and the foot soldiers, as also this body this mansion, may be accepted for the sake of personal gain or the sake of the accomplishment of the ends of others, whatever is fit to be made use of. It behoves you to satiate my heart perturbed on account of grief on account of non-obtainment of a suitable receptacle since my very birth.”!
The reprimand of the Vampire to Meghavāhana busy in the worship of Śrī establishes the well-established etiquette of society that before waiting upon the master, their lackeys deserve to be gratified or else some hurdle is created by them before one can see their masters. It is only through some glib artifice or way of bribery or payment of gratification that they get humoured and help the person to reach the vicinity of the masters. The words of vampire are like this.
"King:- Nothing beyond this that it is just a wanton deed of yours in so far as having desired the fruit of some (action) you have taken upon, the task of adoring every day, this Srī, our mistress. And actually it is the servants anxious to achieve the accomplishment of their ends who make fit for favour with formal observances, those who have taken stand on some vow and are an object of amenability. Anon they curry their favours constantly in accordance with the whims of their masters through their sense of favouritism with relations confirmed accordingly. This verily appears to
1. TM. Vol. I pp 91-92. 2. राजन्, न किंचिदन्यत्, त्वदीयमेव चेष्टितम् त्वया हि फलमभिलष्य किंचिदियमस्मत्स्वामिनी
श्रीरनुदिवसमासेवितुमुपक्रान्ता, सेवकाश्च फलप्राप्तिकामाः प्रथमुपचारेण गृहीतवाक्यं परिग्रहलोकमावर्जयन्ति, ततस्तेन कृतपक्षपरिग्रहेण ग्राहितसम्बन्धाः प्रभूणामसक्तमात्मभक्तिमुपदर्शयन्ति, एष तावजगति दृश्यते व्यवहारः त्वया तु fautta: Y ast Halfafet: Ibid. Vol. I p. 133.
