A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s7.38

v3.c35.s7.38

How lively stand before us the personalities such as the cruel and vicious, but cunning and energetic queen Diddā (VI, 176 ff.) or the good-natured weak Ananta (VII, 142) ? With much humour and biting sarcasm he describes the people of the lower society who attain high offices and powers from insignificant positions in life without any special merit. One such character, for example, is Kāyastha Bhadreśvara, who at first was a market-gardener, butcher and fuel-seller; for living he had hung at the back of officials, carrying their bags and ink-bottles, while with a rough woollen cloth he rubbed his (own) back, till Tuṅga, the prime minister of Queen Diddā, made him his assistant, and who later himself became the prime minister (VII, 38 ff., 106).