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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 5 - Philosophical doctrines

Page:

23 (of 28)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


Download the PDF file of the original publication


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285
Accordingly, Venkaṭanātha, states that the path of Bhakti and Prapatti is
essential to give the grace of the Lord. "The Lord is declared in the Upaniṣads to be
Himself she means Upaya of attaining Him. The ways of Bhakti and Prapatti are
indicated for winning His grace. The adoption of these ways is the result of the grea:
ripening of meritorious deeds (done in the past) and, even for this, the Lord, who
has ability to create everything is Himself the cause." 51 The primary element of
Prapatti is Śaranāgati. Referring to this Venkaṭanātha says:
"The embodied being is deluded with the dance of Māyā or Prakṛti; and
Supreme Brahman, who is the Lord of everything and whose greatness is
unequalled, is besides Himself with Compassion, which is bent on saving him and
with the snow of the worship of His feet (Saranagati) quenches the fires of his
suffering, and cancels his sins.52
The person who has recoursed to the path of Prapatti, is protected by the
Lord in all respects, from even the servants of Yama. It is so described in the
Drama. "The servants of Yama tremble before him and even Time which destroys al
(not expecting Indra and Brahma) is in dread of him. The gods of Svarga are afrais
that he might displace them from their seats. Rākṣasas, Anuras, Yakṣas, Guhyakas
and others flee in fear to a great distance. And all this is the result of his having
surrendered his self at the two lotus-like feet of the Lord of Lakṣmi.5
53 Prapanna does not beg of the Lord, the pleasure of this world nor of Svarga
nor Kaivalya nor even Mokṣa. He praise that he should have the grace of Pure and
firm minded Bhāgavatas, who are like the chaste wives of the royal harem, because
their grace is like the dawn which heralds the day of the splendour of Mokṣa.54
51.
उपाय� स्वप्राप्तेरुपनिषदधीतः � भगवान् प्रसत्त्यै तस्योक्त� प्रपदननिदिध्यासनगती �
तदारोह� पुंस� सुकृतपरिपाके� महता निदानं तत्राप� स्वयमखिलनिर्माणनिपुण� ||
[upāya� svaprāpterupaniṣadadhīta� sa bhagavān prasattyai tasyokte prapadananididhyāsanagatī |
tadāroha� puṃsa� sukṛtaparipākena mahatā nidāna� tatrāpi svayamakhilanirmāṇanipuṇa� ||
]
S.S. X-31, p.821
52.
स्वमायाशैलूषीविहरणपरिभ्रान्ततनुभृत्यरित्राणोद्योगप्रवणकरुणावेशविवशः �
प्रतिक्षेप्तुं तापान् प्रभुरयमपर्यन्तमहिमा हिमानीमानी� स्वपदनतिमेनः प्रणुदति �
[svamāyāśailūṣīviharaṇaparibhrāntatanubhṛtyaritrāṇodyogapravaṇakaruṇāveśavivaśa� |
pratikṣeptu� tāpān prabhurayamaparyantamahimā himānīmānīya svapadanatimena� praṇudati ||
]
S.S. X-30, p.820
53.
कम्पन्ते यमकिंकरा� स्वयमस� कालश्च सर्वकर्ष� शङ्कन्ते कि� निर्जर� निजपदावष्टम्भन� पाक्षिकम� �
रक्षोदानवयक्षगुह्यकमुख� धावन्त्यतो दूरत� पद्मावल्लभपादपद्मयुगलप्रत्यर्पितस्वात्मन� ||
[kampante yamakiṃkarā� svayamasau kālaśca sarvakarṣa� śaṅkante kila nirjarā nijapadāvaṣṭambhana� pākṣikam |
rakṣodānavayakṣaguhyakamukhā dhāvantyato dūrata� padmāvallabhapādapadmayugalapratyarpitasvātmana� ||
]
S.S. X-49, p.837
54.
नाथे नस्तृणमन्यदन्यदप� वा तन्नाभिनालिकिनीनालीकस्पृहणीयसौरभमुच� वाचा � याचामह� �
शुद्धाना� तु लभेमहि स्थिरधियां शुद्धान्तसिद्धान्तिनां मुक्तैश्वर्यदिनप्रभातसमयासत्ति प्रसत्ति मुहु� | [nāthe nastṛṇamanyadanyadapi vā tannābhinālikinīnālīkaspṛhaṇīyasaurabhamucā vācā na yācāmahe |
śuddhānā� tu labhemahi sthiradhiyā� śuddhāntasiddhāntinā� muktaiśvaryadinaprabhātasamayāsatti prasatti muhu� |
]
S.S. X-50, p. 839

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