Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates 鈥楾he Astrologer (ganaka)鈥� part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.鈥擧e exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.
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5.5. The Astrologer (ga峁嘺ka)
In different places of his works, 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 also satirizes some fraud people who are in the profession like astrology. He observes that in the name of astrology they are cheating common people. They are robbing people by their deceitful calculations 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 reveals that the astrologer knows nothing about the science of astrology but shows off to be an expert astrologer and it is evident as he asks a fisherman about the time of raining.[1] He never calculates the movements of the stars and the planets but to show off his knowledge of the past and future, carries some worn-out papers with him.[2]
According to 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补, the cunning astrologer often uses readymade dialogues to win the faith of the people. Sometimes he says, 鈥榶ou may lose a heavy amount of money within the next three years.鈥� Again he says 鈥榶ou may also suffer from fever and eye disease, money may come unexpectedly. No one will recognize your help. Though you have enemies, no one can harm you if you are able to protect yourself. Brother, you look unhealthy. Why you are not drinking soup? Most probably, you are affected by jaundice, but I will cure it with the help of mantras.鈥�[3] These are the techniques applied by a astrologer to mislead the people. The astrologer knows nothing but goes to treat jaundice with the help of mantras mixed with astronomy.[4]
About the astrologer a beautiful satirical complement of 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 is that he (the astrologer) calculates the movements of the stars but he himself is unaware about the lover of his own wife.[5] He exposes that pretending to calculate her fortune, the notorious astrologer even touches the soft hands of the wife of a good family.[6]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
jyoti岣� 艣膩stravide tasmai namo鈥檚tu 牡n膩nacak峁峁/
惫补谤峁峁� p峁沜chatya惫补谤峁峁� v膩 dh墨var膩n yo vina峁ａ弓adh墨岣�// ibid.,II.82
[2]:
grahanak峁trat膩r膩峁嚹佱箖 sa峁僰hy膩ne鈥檖yak峁泃a艣rama岣�/
at墨t膩n膩gata牡n膩nadambh膩ya malapatrabh峁泃// ibid.,II.83
[3]:
ibid., II.84-86
[4]:
iti s膩dh膩ra峁嘺牡n膩namantravaidyakami艣rita峁�/
jyoti岣� 艣r膩stra峁� viga峁嘺yan yo mu峁ａ箛膩ti ja岣嵞伵沘y膩n// ibid., II.87
[5]:
ga峁嘺yati gagane ga峁嘺ka艣candre峁嘺 蝉补尘腻驳补尘补峁� 惫颈艣腻办丑腻测腻岣�/
vividhabhuja峁単akr墨岣嵞乻akt膩峁� g峁沨i峁嚹箖 ca j膩n膩ti// 碍补濒腻惫颈濒腻蝉补 , IX.6