Tilakamanjari

Author(s): Dhanpal, Sudarshankumar Sharma
Publisher: Parimal Publications

Page 51

DHANAPĀLA AS A PROSE WRITER
37
must have flourished much earlier than the 3rd Cent. A.D. even. He has referred to Cāņakya and also to Yaugandharāyaṇa, Udayana, Mahāsena, Gopālaka, Pālaka and Naravāhanadatta (son of Udayana) and omitted Aryaka (the son of Gopālaka and grandson of Mahāsena referred to by Šūdraka in his Mịcchakațika). He cannot be posterior to Cāņakya also known as Kautilya and even Sūdraka. Bhāsa has referred to Udayana, Mahāsena, Gopālaka and Pālaka' and not to Naravāhanadatta and Aryaka. Bhāsa is definitely anterior to both Guņādhya and Sūdraka. On the basis of this we can place Guņādhya towards the last quarter or second half of the fifth century B.C. and the first half of the 4th century B.C. Brhatkathāmañjarī of Kșemendra illustrates in brief the point that Udayana after his Digvijaya assumed the status of Puramdara while his spouse became a female swan and as both of them were rejoicing in the bliss of conjugal felicity there came to them one day Nārada in their royal court where he warned the King against over-addiction to vices such as hunting whereby Pāndu of Mahābhārata fame had met his doom. He, however, blessed the king that he would be blessed with son who would assume the paramountsy of the Vidyādharas after having propitiated the moon-crested one i.e. Śiva who also produced Kumāra. Vāsavadattā would bear that child who would be an incarnation of Smara (Cupid) consumed by the eye of Hara (i.e. Śiva) and brought into being by Siva pleased over the austerities of Rati.?
The same account is obtained more elaborately and faithfully in the version of Somadeva which lends better incentive to our probe meant to locate the source of the theme of our romance.
In the first taranga after the benediction which is the same as one given before the kathāpītha lambaka we find a mention made of the paramountsy of Udayana over the entire earth held underneath by a single parasol. Having devolved all the responsibilities as well as the liabilities of his kingdom over to the army chief Rumanvān and the Prime-minister Yaugandharāyaṇa he took to a life of licentiousness enjoying music and drinking in association with his queens and many other maidens. Hunting also became his inordinate passion. Finding him given over to these habits there came to him one day the sage Nārada who having seen that king, a
1. Pratijñāyaugandharāyaṇa. II. 13. p. 90 by Sudarshan Sharma, (MLBD Delhi, 1965.) 2. Lambaka IV Guccha I. verses 2-10. P.102, 103. Mehar Chand Lacchmandas Delhi,
1982 Published by VVBI VSIS. 3. KSS Vol. I. Kedārenātha Lambaka IV taranga I verses 2-37. pp. 408-412. Bihar Rastra
bhogh parisad Patna, 1960.