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FOREWORD
Among the Sanskrit prose works the Tilakamañjarī of Dhanapala has suffered comparative neglect, though in its style and beauty of diction it compares very favourably with some of the masterpieces in the field. It is therefore gratifying to note that of late it has begun to attract critical notice of scholars. A critique on it was included in the Delhi University Ph.D. thesis "A study of Katha Literature in Sanskrit" by Miss Kamal Gogna. A far more detailed notice was taken of it by Dr. N.M. Kansara of Ahmedabad who produced two volumes on it, one containing the critical edition of the work and the other, a study of it. These volumes were in the form of a thesis that he had submitted to the M.S. University, Baroda, for the degree of Ph.D. Apiece with these studies is the study by Dr. Sudarshan Kumar Sharma. He has produced a volume of more than 900 pages on it. Dr. Sharma has worked hard and has come out with penetrating critique on the work of Dhanapala. His processing of the cultural material in it is particularly welcome. Equally welcome is his presentation of the facts and style of writing. The world of scholars would keenly look forward to seeing his study in print and profiting by it.
(Satya Vrat Shastri) Ex Vice Chancellor
Sri Jagannatha Puri Sanskrit University, Puri, (Orissa)
