Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates 鈥楾he Unchaste Widow (randa)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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5.13. The Unchaste Widow (ra峁囜笉膩)
碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 also exposes the viciousness of widow. He satirizes the unchaste widow who pretends to be pious. He mentions that she frequently takes bath and remains busy in meditation. She also stays away from meat and alcohol. But, the hypocrite widow is a regular visitor of the guru, whom she considers to be a liberator.[1] She organizes feasts in her husband鈥檚 memorial rite and offers herself to the guru in the name of her husband鈥檚 salvation.[2] 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 exposes that the lewd widow is a source of pleasure for the libertine. He satirizes that without her there can be no dharma and no salvation for a libertine.[3] He also exposes that the licentious widow whenever sees a young man, her dirty mind becomes happy thinking of an embrace.[4] She cannot even dominate her desires.[5] The notorious widow goes to the holy places with her brahmin lover and at night unites with him.[6] According to 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补, she is extremely lustful and there is hardly anyone who can satiate her while making love.[7]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
ku艣atilar膩jatav膩li岣� kalitakar膩 sn膩nad膩najapanirat膩/
madhum膩峁僺膩艣anah墨n膩 ra峁囜笉膩 tr膩峁嘺峁� 驳耻谤耻峁� smarati// 顿别艣辞辫补诲别艣补 ,VIII.49
[2]:
艣r膩ddhe bharturvidy膩峁� tyaktv膩 s膩 bha峁弓abhojaka艣r膩ddha峁�/
bhakty膩 m峁泃akoddh膩re jaghana峁� haste guro岣� k峁pati// ibid.,VIII.50
[3]:
[4]:
ra峁囜笉膩 vilokya taru峁嘺峁� karoti 产丑谤耻办耻峁璱峁� 尘峁涐梗腻/
ka峁囜弓hagraha峁� cintayant墨 尘补苍补蝉腻 tu prah峁涐梗yati// ibid.,III.30
[5]:
ibid., III.32
[6]:
parasparapr膩rthanay膩 sumu峁囜笉itabhagadhvajau/
bh奴kampak膩ri峁嘺u r膩trau tau ra峁囜笉膩brahmac膩ri峁嘺u// ibid.,III.39