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Bhagavatpadabhyudaya by Lakshmana Suri (study)

by Lathika M. P. | 2018 | 67,386 words

This page relates ‘Poetic Experience: Alankara, Rasa and Vritta� of the study on the Bhagavatpadabhyudaya by Lakshmana Suri: a renowned Sanskrit Scholar from the 19th century. The Bhagavatpada-abhyudaya is a Mahakavya (epic poem) narrating the life of Shankara-Acharya, a prominent teacher of Advaita Vedanta philosophy. This essay investigates the socio-spiritual conditions of 8th century AD in ancient India as reflected in Lakshmanasuri’s work.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Poetic Experience: ṅk, Rasa and ṛtٲ

ṅk

Poetry is an art and its immediate purpose and aim are the giving of delights, the aesthetic pleasure. This was recognised by Sanskrit critics from very ancient times. 󲹲ܻ岹ⲹ is written in the form of a Ѳ屹ⲹ divided into several sargās.

In Sanskrit literature ṅk adorned very great and important position. defined the word ṅk [ṅk�] in two ways: �ṃkⲹٱ iti ṅk�� and another is �ṃkⲹٱ anena iti ṅk��. ṅks have classified mainly in three types in Sanskrit literature. They are śṅk, ٳṅk and ܲ󲹲ṅk The ṅks like �Գܲ, yamaka and śṣa are included in śṅk. The ṅks like 屹ǰپ, ܱ貹, ūprekṣ�, 屹ǰپ, ū貹첹, ī貹첹, ٳԳٲԲ, , پśǰپ are included in ٳṅk | and the ṅks of ܲԲܰٱ is included ܲ󲹲ṅk.

The author ṣmṇa Sūrin has used these Śabdhālaṅkāras and ٳṅk in 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ while he narrates Śṅk’s biography. He mostly used the figure �ܱ貹� in this work.

The definition of ṅk named ܱ貹

ܱ貹nopameyayo� sādharmyebhedābhedatulyatve ܱ貹 |[1]

That is Upama (simile) where a similarity between two objects is clearly expressed a comparison of two similar object is ܱ貹 |

The example of this ṅk in 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ is:

brahmavarcasanirvṛttajesāgnirivajvalan |
prathamāśramamāhātmya� sa babhau khyāpayanniva ||
[2]

In this verse, the poet describes the beautiful view. He imagines that the words of Brahma is like fire. The author applies ܱ貹 through the comparison of fire and words.

The definition of Alankara named �ܻٳٲ� is:

samṛddhimadvastuvarṇanamܻٳٲm[3]

Its example of 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ is:

sa viveśa ܰī� śī� kāśamānā� tvayā ś |
īṇām brahmaܰī� bhuvi riraṃsayā ||
[4]

In this verse ṣmṇa Sūrin defines the beauty and prosperity of the kingdom named ś. Here the poet describes the old country, ś’s peculiarities. Here

udāttālaṅkāra� |

The definition of ṅk named �屹ⲹṅg� is

ٴǰⲹ貹ٳ󲹳 屹ⲹṃg�[5]

Where an expressed idea is in need of justification is sustained by another idea, it is �屹ⲹṅgṅk�

Its example of 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ is:

apārāṃścatigambhīrānāmnāyāṃsāgarāniva |
pibankhelena nanveṣa dvitīyaḥkumbhasaṃbhava� ||
[6]

In this verse the poet describes the sage Agastya drank the whole water of the ocean. Here Śṅk drinks the whole Vedas. So he is the second Kumbasaṃbhava. That idea justified by another idea.

The definition of ṅk named arthāntaranyāsālaṅkāra� |

sāmānyaviśeṣakāryakaraṇabhāvābhyā� nirdiṣṭaprakṛtasamٳԳٲԲ� |[7]

The method of just a normal or a common term to indicate either an object or ideology of great importance, or using an important symbol of signify a common thing is that makes the arthāntaranyāsālaṅkāra� |

ṣmṇa Sūrin gives the example of this ṅk.

iya� hi 󲹳� śailī yatprapannaiṣvanugraha� |
rājño'napatyatāduḥkha� putreṣṭayā śamayanvibhu� ||
[8]

In this verse, the depiction of the general idea narrated by a particular idea, could be seen this ṅk. The sad people have always got the blessings of Mahāpuruṣās. That is the general idea. Here the thirst for a son is a particular idea.

The definition of ṅk named yamaka is:

ⲹñᲹԲܻⲹ貹ܲԲܰٲⲹ� ⲹ첹�[9]

This ṅk becomes applicable in sentences where vowel and consonant sounds are repeatedly used.

ṣmṇa Sūrin gives a beautiful example of ⲹ첹�

śrutyantavyāpinī saumyeviśāle cāsya cakṣuṣ� |
śrutyantavyāpi cakṣuṣṭa� vyācakṣāte niraṅkuśam ||
[10]

Here the first line is identified with the repetition of ś and ⲹñᲹԲ. In that manner that ṅk is ⲹ첹� |

Rasa

Following the style of a Ѳ屹ⲹ in 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ the river, mountain, wind, the moon, sun and night are portrayed thematically and briefly. In some places, the narration of ṣmṇa Sūrin is beautiful and enjoyable. Sometimes he uses aṅgarasa or secondary rasa as adding effect to main rasa. In narrating the childhood of Śṅk he uses �adbhutarasa�. The meeting with ҴDZԻ岹󲹲ٱ岹 has �śԳٲ�. In 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ. Bhakti for Śṅk is the main theme. Therefore Bhakti may be regarded as the dominant rasa expressed throughout the text.

ṛtٲ

The ṛtٲ has a prominent position in Sanskrit literary tradition. ṣmṇa Sūrin used various metres in 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ. But �Գṣṭܱ� is the most important one. From One to nine cantos, the starting ṛtٲ is Գṣṭܱ | In the end of every cantos he uses so many ṛtٲs. They are vasantatilaka, ԻԳ, ī, śūīḍiٲ, 岹ṇḍ첹 | etc.

The content analysis shows that 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ was written in the style of Ѳ屹ⲹ, but it cannot fulfil all the ṣaṇās of mahā屹ⲹ as noted above. In other sense this biography was written in the style of ܰṇa with many anecdotes. He gave importance to tell the stories about Śṅk as an avatār of Ś. This 屹ⲹ is entirely different from traditional Mahākāvyās. So many stories are mixed there. Here the stories about Śṅk’s disciples are also available. He gave most importance to narration. There are so many , , and ṅks displayed. The author gives much importance to narration, not for description; he gave importance to the legends of Śṅk. He considers Śṅk was the protector or saviour. Advaita is its path. He believes in the principle of unity. This work is highly influential in maintaining the idea of ‘unity in diversity�. Śṅk’s life is the example of this. He believes in karma but gave ultimate importance to ñԲ-marga. He believs ñԲ is the true way for liberation.

In Śṅk’s life ṣmṇa Sūrin narrates bhakti in so many aspects such as devotion to deity, to Guru and mother. In 󲹲ٱܻ岹ⲹ we can see so many and rasās. The situation of Śṅk’s ‘parakāyapraveśa� is the example of �Vismaya� and Rati�. In meeting with Maṇḍana Miśra he asks so many tricky questions and answers it with wit. That is the best example of ��. Āryāmba’s death scene is the example of �Śǰ첹�. The people of Kaladi do not allow Śṅk for his mother’s funeral. At that time he cursed them. In that situation �Krodha� is there. At last he spread Advaita thoughts all over India, defeating the rivals there is the sentiment �ٲ�. After the crocodile incident he consoled his mother, there �Jugupsa�, is shown towards the material world. The incident of Kanakadhārastotra is situated in Bhakti and ‘Vismaya�. Sarvajñapiṭārohaṇa and find liberation as Ś is situated �Գٲ�. In this manner rati, , śoka, krodha, utsāha etc. may be considered as the Poṣakās of rasa, bhakti which is the dominant. But whether it is fully revealed or not is a matter of contention. However the combination of several 屹 are indeed a great attraction of this Kāvya.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

鲹Բ첹 Ruyyaka, ṅksarvasva of with the Commentary of Jayanatha, Ed., Durgaprasad, Kaśinath Pandurang Parab, Bombay: Nirnayasagar Press, 1893, p.25.

[2]:

ṣmṇa Sūrin, 󲹲󲹱ٱܻ岹ⲹ, Tanjore: Parimal Publications, 1927, III.8.

[3]:

鲹Բ첹 Ruyyaka, ṅksarvasva of with the Commentary of Jayanatha, Ed., Durgaprasad, Kaśinath Pandurang Parab, p.183.

[4]:

ṣmṇa Sūrin, 󲹲󲹱ٱܻ岹ⲹ, IV. 1.

[5]:

鲹Բ첹 Ruyyaka, ṅksarvasva of with the Commentary of Jayanatha, Ed., Durgaprasad, Kaśinath Pandurang Parab, p.143.

[6]:

ṣmṇa Sūrin, 󲹲󲹱ٱܻ岹ⲹ, II. 47.

[7]:

鲹Բ첹 Ruyyaka, ṅksarvasva of with the Commentary of Jayanatha, Ed., Durgaprasad, Kaśinath Pandurang Parab, p.36.

[8]:

ṣmṇa Sūrin, 󲹲󲹱ٱܻ岹ⲹ, III. 32.

[9]:

鲹Բ첹 Ruyyaka, ṅksarvasva of with the Commentary of Jayanatha, Ed., Durgaprasad, Kaśinath Pandurang Parab, p.10.

[10]:

ṣmṇa Sūrin, 󲹲󲹱ٱܻ岹ⲹ, II. 6.

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