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Dasarupaka (critical study)

by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words

This page relates ‘Conclusion� 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 15 - Conclusion

The author, ղٲᲹ, was a minister and court poet under the kings of Candel dynasty, such as Paramardideva and Trailokyavarman, were ruling in the Kāliñjar. He is the only author, in Sanskrit dramatic literature, who has written some rare types of dramas.

The Samudramanthana has a well-known plot, taken from the ʳܰṇa. The story involves the churning of the Milky-Ocean by the gods and demons. However, all the valuable things that came out of the ocean were taken away by the gods cleverly. The plot of Samudramanthana is ideal for type of drama. The term is also suggested by Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ, for the same type of drama, in the ṭyśٰ and the Daśarūpaka.

ղٲᲹ in his Samudramanthana, has followed almost all the rules prescribed by Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ. He has applied six ancillaries of īٳī out of thirteen, like continuance (avalagita), compliment (貹ñ), triple explanation (trigata)and deception (chala), out vying (adhivala) and repartee () in the drama Samudramanthana. Again, he has applied three types of deceptions (첹貹ṭa), three types of flights (vidravas) and three types of erotic (śṛṅ) in various acts of drama. However, ղٲᲹ has not used the metres like ṣṇ and ⲹٰī prescribed by Bharata, but he has applied other meters such as ٰṣṭܱ, Գṣṭܱ and ṣa etc. in his drama. It should be noted that both Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ do agree on the issue of duration of the first actand hold that it should be completed within the duration of twelve stalks (ḍi첹). According to Bharata, the duration of the first act in , is fixed as twelve stalks (ḍi첹), as the same is required for the erotic scenes involving female characters. ղٲᲹ has followed this rule of Bharata in his drama of Samudramanthana. Again, demands the avoidance of mutual link between the stories of different acts. Bharata recognizes this fact, but ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ does not. However, ղٲᲹ seems to have regarded this view, as we do not find sometimes, any mutual link between the stories of the act of the drama. Again, ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ recommends preface (峾ܰ) in the , like in the ṭa첹. However, Bharata does not say anything on this point of issue. The Samudramanthana employs preface (峾ܰ) but not like in the ṭa첹. Further, the Samudramanthana involves the absence of both expansion (bindu) and introductory scene (ś첹) as does not require the same expansion (bindu) and introductory scene (ś첹).

It should be noted that ղٲᲹ has used more than twenty characters in the Samudramanthana. However, out of them, some characters like վṣṇ, Ѳś, Bali, Śܰ峦ⲹ and ṣmī are more important than others. Samudra is the self-less character. He distributes everything he has with him. However, the Samudramanthana has focused on վṣṇ and ṣmīand their marriage.

The play Samudramanthana of ղٲᲹ has employed all types of styles (ṛtپ), ignoring Bharata’s rule that the gay style (첹śīṛtپ) should not be applied in the type of drama. However, ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ, as an exception, states that one could use low gay style (첹śīṛtپ) in the type of drama. Perhaps ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ suggests so, because, allows the use of erotic (śṛṅ) sentiment in the drama, which involves gay style (첹śīṛtپ). However, there is no problem for the use of other styles, because the plot of needs these styles (ṛtپ), i.e. verbal (ī), grand (ٳٱī) and violent (ṭ�); and they are used in the Samudramanthana successfully.

According to ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ, the heroic sentiment is primary in and the rest are secondary. However, Bharata is flexible on this matter. According to him, is full of violence; altercations, war and fightingand therefore, one can employ any variety of sentiment in this type of drama. In the Samudramanthana, heroic (ī) is the main sentiment and other sentiments like pathetic (첹ṇa), laughter (), terrible (󲹲Բ첹), erotic (śṛṅ) and marvelous (adbhuta) are subordinate sentiments. ղٲᲹ has tried to employ all the sentiments perfectly. The Samudramanthana is humorous through the application of the ancillaries of īٳī. The flights and deceptions create panic in the drama, so they are the causes of terrible (󲹲Բ첹) and pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiments. The fighting, altercations and war between gods and demons produce energy and therefore, the heroic sentiment is well established.

ղٲᲹ has employed all the four Junctures in the Samudramanthana , which has three acts. The first act is with twelve stalks (ḍi)and two junctures, called opening (mukha) and progression (pratimukha). The second act is the smaller oneand has development Juncture with four stalks (ḍi). Then the third act is the smallest oneand has concluding Juncture with two stalks (ḍi). However, Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ differ with each other with regard to the measurement of ḍi. Bharata states that ḍi is equivalent to half a ܳūٲ, where as ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ states that ḍi is equivalent to two ṭi. One ܳūٲ is equal to 48 minutes (Monier Williams)and so half a ܳūٲ is 24 minutes. However, one ṭi is equal to 24 minutes (Monier Williams)and so two ṭi are equal to 48 minutes. Thus, according to Bharata, the first act itself should last for (six ܳūٲs) 4.8 hours and according to ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ it should last for (twenty four ṭi) 9.6 hours; and in the same way, the measurement of the other acts should be calculated. Thus, there is huge difference between Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ regarding the measurement of ḍi.

ղٲᲹ’s technical knowledge and command over dramaturgy were superb. He has made use of the technical aspects of the drama as per necessity of Samudramanthana. He has not used any introductory scene in the though the conversation of Padmaka and ṣṭܰ첹 could be considered as an interlude scene. However, ղٲᲹ has followed ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ’s rule who states that if the first act begins with sentiments, it does not require any interlude scene (ṣk󲹰첹). Therefore, ղٲᲹ has not used the interlude scene after the prologue.

The dramas of ղٲᲹ reflect the status of the society. The Samudramanthana reflects the struggling of the society at the hands of the foreign invaders. The Samudramanthana also tries to unite the people and the kings to fight against the invaders, who are like demons. ղٲᲹ’s words are very energetic. He strongly opposed foreign invasion, which troubles the people. Though the people were living peacefully under the king Paramardideva, the reign was disturbed by the foreigners.

ղٲᲹ’s Samudramanthana also reflects the status of woman at that time. The women had equal status and were respected in the society.

From the above, it can be concluded that Samudramanthana has followed almost all the principles of recommended by both Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹand thus constitutes an ideal .

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