Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Sentiments (rasa) used in a Utsrishtikanka� 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)
Part 9 - Sentiments (rasa) used in a Utsṛṣṭikāṅka
Though the Ūrubhaṅga contains the pathetic (첹ṇa) as its principal sentiment and heroic (ī) as the subordinate sentiment, the other sentiments like furious (raudra), tranquility (śԳٲ) and odious (īٲ) are also applied in the drama.
Pathetic (Karuṇa) �
The Ūrubhaṅga is totally different type of drama. Only the last part of the drama contains the pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiment and the same is manifested only after Duryodhana’s thighs are broken by ī and Durjaya, the son of Duryodhana, meets his father. The scene involving conversation of Duryodhana and Durjaya is really pathetic and heart rending.
Durjaya wants to sit on the lap of Duryodhana, but Duryodhana is unable to offer his lap to him and tells him to sit anywhere else he wants to sit except his lap:
�ٲⲹٱ paricitam putra! yatra tatra tvayāsyatām, adyaprabhṛti nāstīdam purvabhūktam tavāsanam�
�(verse.44).
Duryodhana’s love for his son touches great high:
�duḥkhānāmanabhijñeyo mamāṅkaśayanocita�, nirjitam durjayo ṛṣṭv kinnu 峾ⲹپ�
�(verse.42).
Heroic (Vīra) �
The drama is full of heroic sentiment and it plays an important role in the drama. The war between the Kauravas and the ṇḍ is really a heroic deed. The best example of heroic (ī) sentiment is the fighting between ī and Duryodhana.
ī fights with great power but Duryodhana fights cleverly, because he is well trained in the art of fighting:
�saṃśikṣito narapatirbalavānstu ī��
�(verse.9).
Odious (Bībhatsa) �
The other sentiment, which is employed in the play, is odious sentiment. The odious sentiment is very natural to the drama, involving descriptions of horrific scenes, when the war comes to an end. The dead bodies of kings, soldiers, charioteers are spread everywhere. Elephants, horses fall down like huge boulders. Warriors fall down as the victimsand their roaring is heart rending. The birds, with bloodstained beaks, loosen the ornaments from the bodies of the kings. Everywhere bows, arrows, skins, umbrellas, chowries, javelins, spears, maces, hammersand swords are scattered. Jackals and vultures drag the dead bodies of the warriors. Their huge long wings out-spread in the sky like fans, with bits of flesh. It has been described, as if someone had witnessed the spectacle of the war. describes the war as if he was present near the battleground. The scene is described in seven verses (fifth to eleventh).
Furious (Raudra) �
Since the drama contains heroic sentiment, the furious sentiment comes naturally. Anger, altercation, fight are the results of furious sentiment. The furious sentiment is employed, when ī strikes on the thighs of Duryodhana by mace, getting secret sign from ṛṣṇa. 峾 gets angry because ī trounced
Duryodhana. Thus, 峾 wants to kill ṇḍ by his plough:
�ākṣiptalāṅgūlamukhollikhitai� ………pāṇḍuputrān�
�(verse.32).
峾 loses his control watching the favouritism of ṛṣṇa. The violation of the law of the battle worries him:
�raṇagatamatisandhim mām ca nāvekṣya darpāt�
�(verse.27).
Tranquility (Śānta) �
Duryodhana is a powerful, rude and proud king. He does not want to bow his head in front of anyone. However, after the break of his thighs by ī, he becomes a changed man. He tells 峾 that he should not get angry. He consoles 峾 saying that he has fulfilled his vow.
His brothers have gone to the heavenand therefore he should follow now their path:
�mā mā bhavānevam, pratijñāvasite bhīme gate bhrātṛśate divam, mayi caivam gate 峾 � kim kariṣyati�
�(verse.33).
The last part of the play, up to the death of Duryodhana, contains tranquility sentiment. Duryodhana’s conversations with his son Durjaya, father ٳṛtṣṭ, mother Իī and queens ī and ʲܰī are calm and quite.
He advises his son to behave properly with ṇḍ:
�ahamiva pāṇḍavā� ……�ܱ貹ī cobhe mātṛvat pūjayitavye�
�(Ūrubhaṅga, T. Ganapati Shastri, p.109).