Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
Page 258 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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238
the public believed in those days. The character of
Vid奴saka is exclusively the invention of Bh膩sa, which
was mainly responsible for earning for him the title of
TH:. It may be that Sak膩ra is the exaggerated
development of this braggart Santusta.
Type of drama. The Avi is a full-fledged drama
(N膩峁璦ka) and it will be seen that it answers the
requirements in major details. It is a perfect comedy.
The Anguliyaka Kath膩 is the secondary incident
(pat膩k膩), so also is the Vid奴saka Kath膩. Dr. Winternitz
takes the Avi to belong to the Prakarana type along
with the Svapna, Pratij帽膩 and Car. The Avi does
not fulfil the essential conditions of a Prakarana with
regard to the plot, the hero, and the presence of Vita,
Sak膩ra, Kuttini, Ceta and others as enjoined by the
艢rngaraprak膩sa. No doubt, the nurse is there but her
character is quite different from that expected of the
Ce峁璱 type required in a 笔谤补办补谤补峁嘺. The Svapna
and Pratij帽膩 can never be called Prakaranas as
they do not answer any special characteristic of the
笔谤补办补谤补峁嘺.
Sentiments etc. 艢峁沶g膩ra and H膩sya are the main
sentiments, and occasionally there are employed Karuna
(the descriptions of Kurangi and Avim膩raka in separation;
their attempts at suicide, etc.); Adbhuta (meeting with
Vidyadhara and getting the magic ring from him; the
story of Avim膩raka's birth; etc.); Bhayanaka (various
trials through which Avim膩raka passes before his entry
into the Kanyapura); etc. There are a number of beautiful
similes in this play to be met with at many places.
Special mention may be made of II. 12; III. 4; IV. 11.
II. 13 is an Utprek峁Ｄ� describing the various-natured
world, which has changed its dress as it were at the
approach of night:
啶掂啶ぞ啶啶粪啶熰じ啷傕ぐ啷嵿く啶むた啶侧啷� 啶掂た啶むい啷嬥ぁ啷佮ぎ啶距げ啷�
啶ㄠし啷嵿啶距い啶 啶啶︵啶え啷嬥す啶班ざ啷�啶むさ啶距い啶� 啷�
[vy膩m峁涐梗峁璦s奴ryatilako vitato岣島m膩lo
na峁ａ弓膩tapo m峁沝umanohara艣墨tav膩ta岣� |
] 1 Problems, p. 113; Tatke, MS, 5, p. 165, also takes the Avi to be a Prakara峁嘺,
as the plot according to him, is imaginary (f). We think the poet has
drawn on the popular folklore. Taking the plot to be the poet's creation, however,
the Avi does not answer many of the requirements of a Prakarana as stated
above. Cf. the definition of a Prakarana given in this chapter later on under
"Carudatta (d) Type of Drama." 2 Cf. Bh膩vaprak膩艣ana, GOS, No. 45, p. 242 lines
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