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Dasarupaka (critical study)

by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words

This page relates ‘Styles (vrittis) of the Nataka� of the English study of the Dasarupaka of Dhananjaya: an important work on Hindu dramaturgy (Natya-shastra) from the tenth century dealing with the ten divisions of Sanskrit drama (nata), describing their technical aspects and essential dramaturgical principals. These ten types of drama are categorised based on the plot (vastu), hero (neta) and sentiment (rasa)

Part 8 - Styles (ṛtپ) of the ṭa첹

According to the ṭyśٰ, ṭa첹 should contain all four types of styles (ṛtپ) [cf. ṭyśٰ.XXII.7.], i.e.

  1. verbal style (īṛtپ),
  2. grand style (ٳٱīṛtپ),
  3. gay style (첹śīṛtپ) and
  4. violent style (ṭīvṛtپ).

1) Verbal Style (Bhāratīvṛtti)�

The Verbal Style is generally used in the prologue of the drama, because it has four elements, i.e.

  1. propitiation (dz),
  2. preface (峾ܰ),
  3. garland (īٳī) and
  4. the farce (prahasana).

The propitiation is the part of preface (峾ܰ). The ancillaries of īٳī (īٳⲹṅg) and farce (prahasana) are separate types of dramas, stated in the Daśarūpaka.

Preface (峾ܰ) and prologue () are synonym. It has five parts, i.e.

  1. abrupt dialogue (ܻ岵ٲⲹ첹),
  2. story caught up (첹ٳǻ岵ٲ),
  3. excess of representation (Dzپśⲹ),
  4. entrance (ṛtٲ첹) and
  5. continuance (avalagita).

Out of these, ܻ岵ٲⲹ첹 and avalagita are the parts of īٳⲹṅg. According to the ṭyśٰ (XXII.35), the poet may construct prologue (峾ܰ) skillfully, taking the relevant one (out of five parts of preface). The ѳܻṣa has applied all of these varieties of preface and all thirteen types of ancillaries of īٳī (ٳⲹṅg) as given below:

Story caught up (Kathodghāta) �

When a character enters following the word of ūٰ, it is called 첹ٳǻ岵ٲ. In the ѳܻṣa, ṇaⲹ enters following the word of Sutradhāra, viz. �ū� sa ٳ� candram abhibhavitum icchati� is the 첹ٳǻ岵ٲ.

Entrance (Pravṛttaka) �

When a character enters following the description of a season, it is called ṛtٲ첹. In the ѳܻṣa, the verse (I.3), viz. �cīyate bāliśasyāpi…Ħ�ٳܰṇaṣaٱ� is the description of the autumn season and ṇaⲹ enters following the description of the verse and hence it is ṛtٲ첹.

Excess of representation (Prayogātiśaya) �

When a character enters through the observation of ūٰ, it is called Dzپśⲹ. In the ѳܻṣa, ṇaⲹ enters through the observation of ūٰ who describes in the seventh verse, viz. �첹ṭiⲹ� ṭiپ� sa ṣa …Ħ� viṣadabhiyoga ityavaiti� and hence it is Dzپśⲹ.

Continuance (Avalagita) �

When an idea is transferred to another for desired effect, it is called avalagita. In the prologue of the ѳܻṣa, on the occasion of house matter, the word �ū� sa ketu� transfers the desired ideaand hence it is avalagita.

Abrupt dialogue (Udghātyaka) �

Udghātyaka is the accidental interpretation, which brings out the intended meaning in the correct form. It is of two types, i.e. of the form of alternate word of secret sense (ūḍhٳ󲹱貹岹貹ⲹū貹) and of the form of the sets of the question and answer (śԴdzٳٲū貹). In the ѳܻṣa, the first type of ܻ岵ٲⲹ첹 is used when the ūٰ utters the word �ū� sa ٳ��. The second type of ܻ岵ٲⲹ첹 is used in the first benedictory verse.

Humorous speech (ղ) �

ղ is the word with enticement. In the drārākṣasa, it is applied in the statement of ūٰ, when he asked ṭ� as to “Whether she has invited venerable 󳾲ṇa favouring his family or she has just welcome them as guests for these special preparation of meals? (kathaya kimadya bhavatyā…ĦĦpākaviṣeśārambha� -udrārākṣasa, Telang, p.58).

Deception (Chala) �

Chala is making enticement by the favourable words. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when ṭ� answers to ūٰ that she has invited 󳾲ṇa because the moon is to be eclipsed (uparajyate kila 󲹲 candra iti–ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.58).

Incoherent (ٱ貹) �

ٱ貹 is the useless advice to make someone fool by unrelated words. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when ṭ� gets false advice about the lunar eclipseand ūٰ asks her as to who told her about this. (, ka evamāha–ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.58).

Mildness (ṛd) �

ṛd is the falsification of good qualities and praise of bad qualities through the argument in opposite mode. In the Mudrārā kṣasa, it is applied when ūٰ says to ṭ� that preparing meals for 󳾲ṇa is useless and then allows her to prepare meals for worthy 󳾲ṇa because she is deceived by someone (tat pravartytām bhagavato brāhmaṇānuddiśya 첹�, candroparāgam prati tu kenāpi vipralabdhāsi -ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.59).

Abrupt remark (Ҳṇḍ) �

Ҳṇḍ is the excess use of words with anger and excitement in the form of altercation. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when ūٰ recites �ū� sa ketuścandra…Ħ�abhibhavitumicchati balāt� (ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.59)and it creates anger in the mind of ṇaⲹand being excited he says from behind the curtain �, ka ṣa mayi sthite� (ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.60), relating to Candragupta.

Enigma () �

is the enigmatic speech in the form of making fun of others. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when after listening, the word of ṇaⲹ, i.e. �, ka ṣa mayi sthite� from behind the curtain, ṭ� asks ūٰ, � 첹� punarṣa…� Here the word �� has the hidden meaning, which makes fun of ṇaⲹ.

Out vying (Adhivala) �

Adhivala is the arguments between two persons comparing each other and both find their respective positions. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when ūٰ recites �kruragraha..� from behind the curtainand ṇaⲹ says �첹� ṣa..�.

Re-interpretation (Avasyandita) �

When one’s intelligence interprets the auspicious or inauspicious meaning is called avasyandita. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when the intelligence of ṇaⲹ interprets the word �ū…Ħ� with Candragupta. Therefore, �ū..� is called avasyandita.

Triple explanation (Trigata) �

Trigata is that wherein more than one meaning is sheltered with the support of reasoning. It is applied when in the verse of the ѳܻṣa, i.e. �ṇaٲܱⲹԾ…�drutamupehi� (ѳܻṣa, I.5), ūٰ shows that the qualities of his wife are the cause of the stability of meritorious worldly life, expertise in devising expedientsand accomplishment of three objects (dharma, artha and ).

Compliment (ʰ貹ñ) �

ʰ貹ñ is the praising of someone, which creates the comic relief. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied in the verse �ṇaٲܱⲹԾ…�drutamupehi� (ѳܻṣa, I.5), when ūٰ praises the qualities of his wife, as she is the ideal woman of morals in his house, instructor in all duties and she presents herself quickly when he needs her. She is the accomplisher of trivargas, also meritorious.

Repartee () �

is the playful talk in the form of question and answer. In the ѳܻṣa, it is applied when ūٰ comes to know that something is going on in his house, because everybody is engaged in the work and it is looking like a festival. Therefore, he wants to know it from his wife and calls her. ṭ� comes and orders to maintain formality. However, ūٰ asks her to let aside the order for a moment (, پṣṭ󲹳ٳ 屹ñԾDz� -ѳܻṣa, Telang, p.58)and wants to know what is going on in the house. Such amusing conversation with ṭ�, is .

2) Grand Style (Sāttvatīvṛtti) -

The possessing of the good qualities is the predominant feature of the grand style (ٳٱīṛtپ). It requires appropriate words and actions in proper way. Therefore, it requires the application of sentiments like heroic (ī), marvellous (adbhuta) and furious (raudra). The other features are like challenging, using abusive dialogues, breach of alliance. The ѳܻṣa is based on ٳٱīṛtپ, because it possesses heroic sentiment as its main sentiment. The heroic sentiment is applied through the characters like ṣa and Candanadāsa. In addition to this, the ѳܻṣa has also applied marvellous (adbhuta) and furious (raudra) sentiments in various places, which are also the part of grand style (ٳٱīṛtپ), known through the characters like Candragupta, Malayaketu, ṇaⲹ and Candanadāsa.

3) Gay Style (Kaiśikīvṛtti) �

The ѳܻṣa however, has not made much use of gay style (첹śīṛtپ). The 첹śīṛtپ is based on the erotic (śṛṅ) and laughter () sentiments with other aspects like dance, song and sport. However these are not abundantly employed in the drama, except the laughter () sentiment is just reflected in some places of the ѳܻṣa, through the characters like ṣa, Ahituṇḍika, Nipuṇaka, Śṅg, ٳ󲹰첹 and ṣa貹ṇa첹.

4) Violent Style (Ārabhaṭīvṛtti) �

The violent style (ṭīvṛtپ) is less used in the ѳܻṣa. There is no use of fight, battle or any type of violence, except the killing of Parvataka in the off stage by ṣa-첹Բ. However, there are some conflicts and altercations happen between Candragupta, ṇaⲹ, Malayaketu and ṣa,. The violent style (ṭīvṛtپ) is mainly applied when the sentiments like terrible (󲹲Բ첹), furious (raudra) and odious (ī󲹳ٲ) are observed. There is no use of odious (ī󲹳ٲ) sentiment, but the furious (raudra) and terrible (󲹲Բ첹) sentiments are made use of in some cases through the characters like Candraguptaand Candanadāsa and other characters.

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