Essay name: Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)
Author:
R. Laxmi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya—an allegorical Sanskrit drama by Venkatanatha, a distinguished philosopher-poet and dramatist of the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition. This work of Venkata-natha (or, Vedanta Deshika). stands out for integrating allegory to convey moral and philosophical truths. The thesis examines its place in Sanskrit literature.
Chapter 5 - Philosophical doctrines
2 (of 28)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
264
The disputants following such a systems cause a terrible knowledge but
insensible like the sound heard at the time of churning milky ocean. These
disputants make vain efforts to silence even Bṛhaspati. As elephants destroy of
grooves of plantain trees, these disputants also, with their own fallacious arguments
try to root out the faith in the path of righteousness. But these elephants like
disputants should be driven away by a lion like scholar endowed with irresistible
strength with the help of its five sharp claws of logical reasoning such as
Ātmasraya, Anyonyāśraya, Cakrāśraya, Anavastha and Aniṣṭaprasanga. And such
a lion like a scholar can dispel the darkness with its two well-displayed teeth of
Parapakṣopālambha i.e. refutation of false doctrine and Svapakṣasthapana i.e. the
establishment of right doctrine.
For achieving this end, a lion like scholar has to hold a debate of scholars of
different systems of Thought. Hence it is significant on the part of the dramatist that
he has entertained the scene wherein Guru and Sisya are engaged in philosophical
debate. With a view to showing weak and fallacious views of other systems, the
dramatist points to such doctrines and refutes them in a cogent manner.
When a scholar is engaged in such philosophical debate he should avoid
Vitaṇḍa vāda. And he should refute opponents views and through which he has to
establish the right theory. This is the ethics of the debate highlighted by
Venkaṭanātha. Just as Rāma authorised by Viśvāmitra took the help of mantras
Bala and Atibala to conquer the demons, a debator too is aloud to employ the
methods of Vitaṇḍa and Jalpa to defeat foes speaking ill of the Vedas and of God.³
In this context, the dramatist Venkaṭanātha suggests a rule for disciple to be
followed in the discussion i.e. when discussions are held with the persons of our
own school of Vedanta one should argue accepting the authority of scriptures held
in common by both. Bearing this discipline in the mind, one should argue with the
support of Pramāṇas in a manner which would appeal to the hearts of the audience.
3.
त्वय� मन्निदेशानुवर्तिना कौशिकनियमिते� राघवेणेव साधिकारे� यथाविध� वीतरागकथानवसरे
वेदेश्वरविदूषकाः सर्व� तत्त्वाध्यवसायसंरक्षणार्थमनुज्ञाताभ्या� बलातिब्लाभ्यामिव
जल्पवितण्डाभ्यामपि जेतव्याः �
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[tvayā mannideśānuvartinā kauśikaniyamitena rāghaveṇeva sādhikāreṇa yathāvidhi vītarāgakathānavasare
vedeśvaravidūṣakā� sarve tattvādhyavasāyasaṃrakṣaṇārthamanujñātābhyā� balātiblābhyāmiva
jalpavitaṇḍābhyāmapi jetavyā� |
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] S.S. II p-226
