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Dasarupaka (critical study)

by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words

This page relates ‘Conclusion� of the English study of the Dasarupaka of Dhananjaya: an important work on Hindu dramaturgy (Natya-shastra) from the tenth century dealing with the ten divisions of Sanskrit drama (nata), describing their technical aspects and essential dramaturgical principals. These ten types of drama are categorised based on the plot (vastu), hero (neta) and sentiment (rasa)

峾ṇi岹, the author of the Lilāvatī (ī屹īīٳī) is renowned poet of eighteenth century A.D. and he was serving under various kings in the south Malabar. He has composed various types of Sanskrit works, like Dramas, 屹ⲹ and Campu.

The plot of the ī屹īīٳī is the imagination of the poetand describes the story of the king Vīrapāla and the queen ī屹ī. The plot of the ī屹īīٳī is excellent and it suits īٳī type of drama.

The ī屹īīٳī has followed almost all the rules prescribed by Bharata and ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ. However, it must be noted that all the thirteen types of ancillaries of īٳī are not applied in the ī屹īīٳī, but, only few of them like continuance (avalagita), abrupt dialogue (ܻ岵ٲⲹ첹), enigma () are employed. Further, there is no use of gentle dance or in the drama. Perhaps, 峾ṇi岹 did not feel the necessity of in the īٳī type of drama, which is actually conducted in the way of dialogue, by two characters on the stage.

Bharata prescribes all the three types of characters such as noble, middle and low in such a drama. However, ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ thinks that all the three types of characters are not necessary, as any character can be reflected in this type of drama. The ī屹ī subscribes to neither of the views fullyand uses only two noble characters in it. As regards the number of characters in the īٳī, it must be noted that the author has introduced only two noble characters, i.e. the վūṣa첹 and the King on the stage and for other characters �śṣiٲ”is used and they are represented from off the stage.

As to the styles (ṛtپ), Bharata prescribes verbal style (bhāraṭīṛtپ) for īٳī whereas Dhananjaya prescribes gay style (kaiśikīṛtپ) for this. However, the ī屹ī combines both the views and employs both the styles, i.e. verbal style (bhāraṭīṛtپ) and gay styles (kaiśikīṛtپ).

Now as regards sentiment. According to ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ, īٳī type of drama should be dominated primarily by the erotic (śṛṅ) sentiment. However, Bharata does not prescribe the erotic (śṛṅ) sentiment to be the predominant sentiment in īٳī. Accordingly, 峾ṇi岹’s ī屹īīٳī, consists of both erotic (śṛṅ) and laughter () as the main sentiments. However, laughter () sentiment is very sparsely used and other sentiments like heroic (ī), terrible (󲹲Բ첹) and marvellous (adbhuta) are used only as subordinate sentiments.

It should be noted that as per the rules of ٳ󲹲ԲñᲹⲹ, the ī屹īīٳī has applied both junctures (sandhi), i.e. opening (mukha) and concluding (Ծṇa), with the combination of actions and elements like beginning, attainment of the resultand seed and denouement.

It should be noted that the ī屹īīٳī, which is a monologue type of drama, has employed technical aspects, such as benedictory (Իī), prologue (), conversation with imaginary person (śṣiٲ) and other mentioned in the drama.

峾ṇi岹, however, does not give much information about the society of that period in the drama. It was almost the beginning of modern era, when he flourished. He served as the poet under various kings like Mārtaṇḍavarman and other mentioned in the drama. In this period, Kerala was ruled well by the kings and therefore, the people were living peacefully. Though the outsiders like Dutch, Muslims and Parsis had already entered into the state, the society was not disturbed because of the powerful ruling of the kings like Mārtaṇḍavarman.

Again, it should be noted that Kerala was very well advanced and so women were free to study and work like men. Even women were engaged in practicing blackmagic. The ī屹īīٳī indicates the incidents such as the abduction of ī屹ī and the acceptance of the second marriage of the king by the queen 屹ī.

Therefore, overall, the ī屹īīٳī is an excellent type of īٳī by 峾ṇi岹.

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