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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 4a - Characterisation of the play

Page:

44 (of 134)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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Warning! Page nr. 44 has not been proofread.

172
an interesting sentence from the letter. 'नीचा� कलहमिच्छन्ति सन्धिमिच्छन्ति साधव� [nīcā� kalahamicchanti sandhimicchanti sādhava�] ' He
makes an appeal to Mahāmoha to give up wickedness and to make treaty with
Viveka, but in vain. Finally, Mahāmoha orders that he should be sent out. However
he is wise enough to retreat at his own will.
մ鰭ṢY
Tārkṣya or Garuda is another character entering the stage in the concluding
portion of the tenth Act. Having observed, Garuḍa's arrival before the palace of king
Viveka. Viṣṇubhakti says that she is blessed by him. Also she says that "He is, as it
were the chariot of the Lord of Lakṣmi and is ever eager to bring Him speedily to the
houses of those who have surrendered themselves to Him and to whom He is bent
on giving salvation. It is also most likely that He will bring Sankalpa, whose
existence and might are inreparable from Him." Viṣṇubhakti describes at length
the glory of Garuḍa with utmost devotion.
" 1
Besides these minor characters, the play has a few characters who play an
assisting role but not seen on the stage. Among them, mention may be made of
Buddhi, Tuṣṭi, Virakti, Titikṣ�, Jigupsā, Śāma, Dama, Svādhyāya, Anubhava, Toṣa,
Maitri, Karuna and Mudita, Sahajadṛṣṭi and Sādṭsadṛṣṭi.
Buddhi :
Buddhi is the wife of Puruṣa. She represents Puruṣa's knowledge of
descrimination and intellect. Which are supposed to be rightly used. If rightly used
she symbolises king Viveka and his followers; otherwise she symbolises king
Mahāmoha and his group. In this play, Buddhi plays a concealed role in the first Act.
She is referred to in the first Act as follows:
"In the course of the varied transformations wrought in her by the dominance
of one or otehr of the three qualities, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, Buddhi, the wife of
the progenitor of our two races, will become subservient to some one else and will,
at a certain time, give birth to that terrible demon (Parābhakti) who will cherish the
cruel and wicked thought of destroying our whole race." 2
1.
2.
आनेतुमात्मरभसे� समीहमान� रक्षोन्मुख� नतगृहेषु रमासहायम� �
प्रायः प्रभोस्तदपृथक्स्थिति वृत्तिशक्तिं संकल्पमप्युपहरिष्यति तद्रथोऽस� ||
गुणनेत्रोन्मेषक्रमपरिणतानन्तविकृति� क्वचित्काल� बुद्धि� कुलयुगलकूटस्थगृहिणी |
अतिक्रूरात्यन्तप्रलयविधिदुर्मन्त्रपरूषां पुरा भीमाकारा� सृजत� परभक्त� परवती �
[ānetumātmarabhasena samīhamāne rakṣonmukha� natagṛheṣu ramāsahāyam |
prāya� prabhostadapṛthaksthiti vṛttiśakti� saṃkalpamapyupahariṣyati tadratho'sai ||
guṇanetronmeṣakramapariṇatānantavikṛti� kvacitkāle buddhi� kulayugalakūṭasthagṛhiṇ� |
atikrūrātyantapralayavidhidurmantraparūṣāṃ purā bhīmākārā� sṛjati parabhakta� paravatī ||
]
S.S. X-16, p.807
S.S. 1-52, p. 109

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