Malatimadhava (study)
by Jintu Moni Dutta | 2017 | 52,468 words | ISBN-10: 8120813057 | ISBN-13: 9788120813052
This page relates ‘Note on the Malatimadhava� from the English study on the Malatimadhava of Bhavabhuti:—A Prakarana type of Drama in ten acts revolving around the love-story of Malati (from ʲ峾屹ī) and Madhava (from Vidarbha). This study discusses the history of its author and the literary, social, religious, historical and cultural aspects of the Malatimadhava.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 2 - A Note on the ī
The ī is a ʰ첹ṇa in ten acts. This ʰ첹ṇa is composed by ūپ, an eminent dramatist of Sanskrit literature. The author has taken the theme of the ī from the ṛhٰ첹ٳ. Here ūپ has portrayed the love-story of ī, the heroine, daughter of a minister of the ʲ峾屹ī and , the hero and son of the minister of Vidarbha. He has made clever arrangement of the events leading to the union of ī and . With this main story ūپ skillfully interwoven the love story of Makaranda, friend of and Madayantikā, sister of Nandana. He has shown excellent constructive skill in contriving a love marriage between ī and .Here Buddhist nun 峾Ի岹ī has played significant role in uniting the hero and the heroine.
This ʰ첹ṇa is variegated in characters as it is evident from the variety of incidents such as saving Madayantikā and ī from the tiger and ǰṇṭ respectively, the conflict of and Makaranda with the city guards, lively description of burning ground along with the vivid picture of goblins that resides in the burning ground and the impersonation of ī by Makaranda.
Moreover, ī contains description of supernatural elements which were being attained by the practice of yoga which directs the whole course of events from tragic to a blissful end. ūپ himself remarks that ī is profound representations which is too difficult for ordinary people to understand on account of the excess of sentiments delineated,an interchange of actions attractive owing to affection, daring acts fully assisting the progress of love, wonderful plots, and dexterity in dialogue.[1] In his book Macdonell has mentioned about ī that the piece is a sort of Indian Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending, the part played by the nun 峾Ի岹ī was similar to that of Friar Laurence in Shakespeare’s drama.[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]: