Tilakamanjari

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

Page 73

DHANAPĀLA AS A PROSE WRITER
of the Sun shining in the midst of the slumbering groves of lilies grown in lakes.
In the narrative of Vijayavega explaining to Meghavāhana regarding the encounter of Samaraketu with Vajrāyudha Dhanapāla has heaped up certain fine allusions from the phenomenal beauty of nature in her gloomy aspect observable during the introduction of Samaraketu before Vajrāyudha by the chowrie bearing maid of Samaraketu. The poet exclaims.
"The night attained to leanness with her stellars moulted away as if through grief, the surface of the sky showered forth the clusters of drops of water of frost as if it were the cluster of pearls let loose by the necklaces of nymphs (lit. the spouses of the gods) embraced ruthlessly by the soldiers gone to impartiality; the lord of the stellars (i.e. the moon) fell down with rays grown sparse and faltering on the peak of the western mount as if frightened on seeing the gore of the battlefield; the group of constellations crouched up with its strength sapped by the effect of the gleam of the rising sun like the son of the king of Simhalas having his prowess screened by the effect of the sheen of Bālāruna (ring) clinging on to him; the clusters of birds hovered about undaunted in the sky having its space unfrequented by the rain of arrows of the soldiers come to a cease as if their fears had been allayed of the strokes deserted as they had their nests at that time, the twilight tint reddened the eastern quarter as if it were the effluence of blood from the solar orb pierced by the hosts of heroes marched on for the heavens or for renunciation; the quarters moved afar as if frightful at the sight of the horrible battle field; the night shone forth at that moment like the regnal glory of the king of Dravidas with drops of tear water clinging to the hair hanging, low through grief, with stars scattered with patches of darkness growing lean owing to their slipping down from the faces of the quarters; the hot rayed one (i.e. the Sun) with frame growing ruddy hued, glared forth from the fore, as if flared up at the disparagement of the son of the king of Simhalas vanquished through deceit.
Further more,
The dawn having appeared like that the gloom grown screened as if anxious to vanquish the foe, the splendour of the sun spreading forth in the interiors of the quarters, the army of the opponent also woke up in its entirety all of a sudden.'
Samaraketu proclaimed a foster brother of Harivāhana, by Meghavāhana, the Angas and Uttarāpatha having been given in the charge of the two respectively, they passed their few days without becoming
1. TM. Vol. II, pp. 219-221. p. 219. LL.9-10. p. 220. LL. 1-7. p. 221. LL. 1-2.