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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 3 - Significance

Page:

18 (of 85)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


Warning! Page nr. 18 has not been proofread.

61
The argument that Råga wishes to putforth is that a person who desires the
perishing pleasures of this life and of Svarga, is animated by desire. And if so, how
can one who desires bliss of Mokṣa. be regarded as free from desire and to have
Virakti. Rāga makes use of a dilemma in interpreting Mokṣa.1
"If bliss means the attainment of one's self, it is false (because we are already
in the attainment of our self); if on the other hand, bliss means the attainment of
something other (than one's own self), then since it is the desire for something else,
there cannot be a Puruṣārtha called Mokṣa other than Kåma which is desire.
Therefore Svarga which results from our own desire and which dances (before our
eyes) as a treasure of good experiences should itself be called Mokṣa, as stated by
the atheistic mīmāṃsakas whom we hold in high esteem.'
Expressing joy, Dveṣa gives support to Rāga saying that Mahāmoha's
doctrine Niriśvaravāda is the Supreme to which a large multitude could be easily
make to fall a prey. He continues to convey his own interpretation of Mokṣa in an
argumentive style.
"If it is held in accordance with Visiṣṭādvaita that Mokṣa is the attainment of
Supreme Splendour (called Brahman), which has for its covering (or body) this
world of cit and acit, then this attainment will not be the cessation of pain or
suffering, for all the ills of cit and ahit (which would cling to Brahman owing to that
covering (or body) will be ours. If, on the other hand, the Advaitin's view is accepted
that Mokṣa is being Brahman without any attribute or distinguishing feature, then it
cannot be enjoyable. so the Upaniṣads (the head of the Vedaa) can remain only as
a subject of study without any practical use.'
"2
Råga agrees with the argument of Dveṣa and continues that Viṣṇubhakti can
be made to flee, that Viveka's reasoning capacity can be made clowdy as not to
1.
स्वस्यावाप्तिः सुखमित� मृषा स्वेतरस्यानुभूतौ कामादन्य� � इव घटते मोक्षनाम� पुमर्थ� �
[svasyāvāpti� sukhamiti mṛṣā svetarasyānubhūtau kāmādanya� ka iva ghaṭate mokṣanāmā pumartha� |
]
2.
तस्मादस्मद्बहुमतनिरध्यक्षमीमांसकोक्त्या स्वेच्छानृत्यद्बहुगुणनिधिः स्वर्ग एवापवर्ग� � [tasmādasmadbahumataniradhyakṣamīmāṃsakoktyā svecchānṛtyadbahuguṇanidhi� svarga evāpavarga� || ] S.S. III-3, p. 338.
प्रपञ्चकृतकञ्चुक� यद� पर� मह� प्राप्यत� � दुःखमपहस्तित� भवति नैकधोपप्लवात� �
अथैकमखिलोज्झित� � खल� भोग्यतामेत� तत� तत� निगममस्तकैर्निगदमात्रशेषैः स्थितम� ।। [prapañcakṛtakañcuka� yadi para� maha� prāpyate na duḥkhamapahastita� bhavati naikadhopaplavāt |
athaikamakhilojjhita� na khalu bhogyatāmeti tat tato nigamamastakairnigadamātraśeṣai� sthitam ||
]
S.S. III-4, p.339

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