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 62 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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42
the term 'Devakula' to convey the idea that there was an
atmosphere of 'holiness', 'sublimity', round these Bh膩sa-
dramas, such as is associated with temples. Otherwise,
he could very well have compared Bh膩sa-dramas with
'palaces' (a) as all the epithets equally apply to
royal palaces also. But as he intended to emphasize the
holy, almost divine, halo attached to these dramas he
employed the term 'temple' (). The term applies
to our dramas as they deal with noble subjects, high
ideals, are didactic, and there is no trace of low morality
or anything that would be deemed sacrilegious by even an
orthodox Brahmin.
The whole verse: etc. has thus been
proved to be applicable in general to the Trivandrum
plays. It has not been proved by those who doubt Bana's
statement that he was giving fanciful descriptions. His
statements in the same context, concerning Pravarasena,
S膩tav膩hana, etc. are found to be correct, and hence there
is no reason why Bana should not be trusted.
Thus it is that Bana gives an additional chain to
our evidence in linking the Trivandrum plays to Bh膩sa.
V膧KPATIR膧JA (Eighth Century)
'a
in his Ga眉davaha, v 800, describes Bh膩sa as
friend of fire' (etc.). "The epithet" as Dr.
Winternitz says, "would be extremely appropriate for our
plays". Dr. Banerji Sastri and Prof. Ghatak have
given an exhaustive list of references from the dramas
wherever the term 'fire' occurs-expressions such as fire
of anger, sacrificial fire, etc. being included in the list."
It is neither necessary, nor correct, we think to go so far
for proving the of the author of the Trivandrum
plays. The appearance of Agni in human form (Abh, VI.
24-27; Avi, IV. 8) as also the mention and description of
conflagrations and fires in a number of these plays (Pa帽c,
I. 6-19; B膩l, II. 24; Dv, 32; Dgh, 22; Svapna, Act
L膩v膩峁嘺ka Dahana)-are sufficient, it is hoped, to justify
the epithet.
This also strengthens the conclusion of Bh膩sa's
authorship of the Trivandrum plays.
The next author, worth mention, referring to some
Problems, p. 122; CR, Dec. 1924, p. 341. 2 Banerji Sastri, JRAS,
1921, p. 380; Ghatak, JDL, 12, pp. 17-18.
