6. Synonymous Word(s) in Sanskrit for Satire

Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)

by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words

This page relates 鈥楽ynonymous Word(s) in Sanskrit for Satire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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6. Synonymous Word(s) in Sanskrit for Satire

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In Sanskrit literature, a particular word for the English word 鈥榮atire鈥� is wanting. Most probably, the reason is that satire as a separate type of literature is mentioned neither in the rhetoric nor in the history of Sanskrit literature. Therefore, exact synonym for English 鈥榮atire鈥� is not available in Sanskrit literature. Neither 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 nor any other poet is using a particular word for satire. In the last chapter of the 顿别艣辞辫补诲别艣补, 碍峁尘别苍诲谤补 uses the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 in the context that he is not much skilled in mockery.^[1] The word is used by him only in the sense of satirizing. In some places of Sanskrit literature also, the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 is met with in the sense of ridiculing or deriding. For example, in the 搁补驳丑耻惫补峁兣沘 (搁补驳丑耻惫补峁兣沘), the poet K膩lidasa expresses that he is not expert as a poet still if he becomes desirous of appreciation, then he will be ridiculed by all.^[2] To get a suitable synonym for the English word 鈥榮atire鈥�, one must depend upon the Sanskrit dictionaries. According to the dictionaries of Sanskrit, both the words 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 and 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 may be accepted in the sense of a 鈥榮atire鈥�. The word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 is often used in Sanskrit literature. But the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 is just narma according to the scholars. The word narma is defined as follows-辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补vaco narma.^[3] In the 艢补产诲补办补濒辫补诲谤耻尘补岣� (艢补产诲补办补濒辫补诲谤耻尘补), narma is used for the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补.^[4] The word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 is used in the sense of joking, fun or merriment. The word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 not only occupies a significant place in the aesthetics, but in one鈥檚 daily life also. One may make fun by talking anything else. For example, in the drama Abhij帽膩na 艢akuntala峁� (础产丑颈箩帽腻苍补艣补办耻苍迟补濒补尘), Dusyanta says the following line to 痴颈诲耻峁办补 after appreciating 艢akuntal膩 too much and requests him not to give much interest on his admiration of 艢akuntal膩 as it is nothing but fun鈥敱璨拱背竽宀醪箆ijalpita峁� sakhe param膩rthena na g峁沨yat膩峁� vaca岣�.^[5] In the above line, the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 is used in the sense of fun.

In the English-Sanskrit Dictionary compiled by Sir M Monier Williams, the Sanskrit word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补岣� is used as the synonym for the English word 鈥榮atire鈥�.^[6] V.S Apte in his Sanskrit-English Dictionary mentions that 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 means satirical laughter.^[7] Pt. Ram Jasan in his A Sanskrit and English Dictionary, mentions the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补^[8] in the sense of ridiculing and 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补^[9] in the sense of mirth. In Hal膩yudha鈥檚 础产丑颈诲丑腻苍补谤补迟苍补尘腻濒腻, the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补^[10] is used in the sense of merriment and jest and the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补^[11] in the sense of ridiculing. L.R.Vaidya also mentions that 耻辫补丑腻蝉补^[12] means satirical laughter and 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补^[13] means joking or ridiculing. For 艢补产诲补办补濒辫补诲谤耻尘补, 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 means 苍颈苍诲腻谤迟丑补惫腻办测腻诲颈岣�.^[14] In the 痴腻肠补蝉辫补迟测补尘 also the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 is used in the sense of ridiculing.^[15] Arthur A.Macdonell in his Sanskrit-English Dictionary uses the word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补^[16] in the sense of ridiculing or mockery and the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补^[17] in the sense of joke or jest.

Pt. Ram Jesan gives the derivation of both the words 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 and the 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 in the following way鈥�

耻辫补丑腻蝉补: upa and has to laugh, affix 驳丑补帽^[18]
辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补: pari much, has to laugh, affix 驳丑补帽^[19]

It is understood from the two derivations that the verb has with the prefix upa denotes the art of laughing wherein there may be indications of some activities or purpose. On the other hand, 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补 is used to mean making fun or joking.

From the above discussion, it may be concluded that the Sanskrit word 耻辫补丑腻蝉补 is more acceptable as a synonym for the English word 鈥榮atire鈥� than the word 辫补谤颈丑腻蝉补.