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)
Part 14 - Conclusion
, the author of the Ūrubhaṅga, is a well established poet and hence it is not necessary to describe his credentials. However, it is a fact that the Ūrubhaṅga, like all other plays of , does not provide any information about the author. The information regarding the author , is from the secondary sources and hence the information is only a guess-work of scholars.
The Ūrubhaṅga is a perfect plot for ٲṛṣṭiṅk and he has made changes which are necessary and justified cleverly in the plot. His description of war is authentic and natural and it produces strong images of war in the minds of the audience. He describes the events that occurred on the battlefield very accurately. His comparison of the battleground to the sacrificial ground is very appropriate. He has avoided violent scenes on the stage and described them tactfully behind the curtain, because ٲṛṣṭiṅk involves pathetic sentiment. It is purely a tragic drama, which has a wellknown (ٲ) plot, taken from the Ѳٲ and justifies the status of being an Utsṛṣṭikāṅkāṅka.
The Ūrubhaṅga does not follow all the rules of ṅk prescribed by Bharata and ٳԲñᲹⲹ. The Ūrubhaṅga looks special. Sometimes seems to follow the rules prescribed by himself.
Except for some stage restrictions, which are imposed by Bharata, most of other rules of Bharata are not followed. For instance, Bharata has ruled that the death of the hero should not be shown on the stage; however, the death has been shown in the Ūrubhaṅga. Duryodhana dies on the stage, in front of all the characters. The war events have been described in the interlude scene (ṣk첹), which is appropriate, because it cannot be described either in introductory scene (ś첹) or in anticipatory scene (ṅk). Again, in the second part of the drama, eight characters continue to remain up to the endand no one exits. However, this event violates Bharata’s rule that in an act only four characters should be present on the stage.
It should be observed here that has used nineteen characters altogether including ūٰ and ś첹 in the Ūrubhaṅga. Out of them, thirteen characters (ūٰ and ś첹, three ṭa, Duryodhana, Baladeva, śٳٳ峾, ٳṛtṣṭ, Իī, Durjaya, ʲܰī and ī) appear on the stage and the other six characters (ṛṣṇa, ī, Arjuna, ղ, Vidura and ۳ܻṣṭ) remain behind the curtain. Arjuna, ղ, Vidura and ۳ܻṣṭ are mere on-looking characters. They do not have any importance in the drama. ṛṣṇa is the game changer, without him, ṇḍ would not have won the war. Even for ī, to fight with Duryodhana was difficult. Baladeva, the teacher of Duryodhana, is the first person who saw ṛṣṇa is cunning. Therefore, he gets angry and decides to teach a lesion to ṛṣṇa by finishing off the ṇḍ. However, Duryodhana refuses to do so. Therefore, the character of Duryodhana is saint like. Duryodhana gets all the honors and respect for his act. He is a loving and obedient son of his parents, affectionate to his little son and dear to his wives. Thus, the tragedy of the Ūrubhaṅga touches a great high. ٳṛtṣṭ loves the act of his son. He addresses him as the champion. He is in grief, because he loses his hundred sons. Իī could not believe that her son is in such a pathetic situation. Still she is proud of having such a fearless son. She agrees to become the mother to Duryodhana once again in the next birth. Both the queens do not agree to leave Duryodhana, in the field alone, they want to end their lives with their husband in the funeral pyre. Durjaya cannot understand what happened to his father. He is a very small child. Anyhow, he accepts all the advices of his father. śٳٳ峾 is angry with the ṇḍ. He decides to kill all the ṇḍ. Duryodhana councils him but he does not listen. In this way, all the characters are employed perfectly.
It should also be noted that has perfectly used the verbal style (īṛtپ) as the violent scenes are absent on the stage, which are contrary to the characteristics of the verbal style (īṛtپ). Further, the war descriptions create the odious (īٲ) sentiment, which is the part of the Bhāratīvṛtti. Again, the odious (īٲ) sentiment produces the pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiment. Therefore, can be credited to have perfectly used the Bhāratīvṛtti. Again, has employed pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiment as the dominant one; but it comes alive only in the second part of the drama, when the death scene of Duryodhana is described. The pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiment is depicted in the conversation between Duryodhana and his son Durjaya. Again, the crying of both the queens and Իī, is really heart rending. The other sentiments like furious (īٲ), odious (raudra) and heroic (ī) are used as the subordinate sentiments.
The drama has followed the rules of juncture (sandhi). Both opening (mukha) and concluding junctures (Ծṇa) are also employed properly. Thus, it has shown the elements like seed (īᲹ) and denouement (ⲹ); and actions like beginning () and the result (岵). The drama starts with the warand after the war, ī smashes the thigh of Duryodhana, which happens at the end. It must be noted here that the opening juncture (mukhasandhi) occurs with the scenes behind the curtain or off stage and concluding juncture is shown on the stage, as ī smashes the thigh of Duryodhana.
It must be noted that has used very few technical aspects like prologue (ٳ貹), intimation scene (nepathya), interlude scene (ṣk첹) and epilogue (ٲⲹ). Unlike many other dramas, ’s Ūrubhaṅga does not begin with any benedictory verse (Իī). The drama begins directly with the prologue (ٳ貹), �ԻⲹԳٱ ٲٲ� śپ ūٰ��. In the prologue, ūٰ recites the benedictory (Իī) verse. Just after the prologue (ٳ貹), the interlude scene (ṣk첹), starts and runs for almost half of the drama. When the main actors enter on the stage, the drama actually starts. The warriors in the interlude scene narrate the actual events that happen in the war. It appears like on the Television screen we are watching the live cricket match and three commentators comment on the ongoing events of the match. The warriors describe the horrific scenes of the war. They do so chronologically and all the incidents appear one after another. In some cases, all the three warriors recite the verses together. However, the epilogue (ٲⲹ) states that there is some disturbance, which probably indicates the exiting of characters. also states that the king should protect the people by defeating the enemies; however, he does not specify the particular king.
has commented number of times about the society of that period. The society was disturbed by the fear of war, but had faith in the king. has not commented on the common people; however, the changed behavior of Duryodhana towards his cousin brothers indicates the kind and loving nature of people. His love for son shows the good relation between father and son. His wives are devoted to him, which indicates the relation between husband and wife. Thus, the Ūrubhaṅga describes the high cultured society of that period. Again, in the society, women were respected as equal to men. As wives, they were �ṇīs� of the husbands. They were ready to die for their husbands anytime and this fact becomes clear from the words of ʲܰī, who wants to immolate herself with her husband (첹ṛt praveśaniścayā na rodimi). These things indicate the fact that women were greatly devoted to their husbands.
In fine, it must be observed here that the Ūrubhaṅga is a fantastic drama of . Since the Ūrubhaṅga is based on pathetic (첹ṇa) sentiment, many scenes evoke pity and compassion. Further, the end of the drama is heart rending and touches a great poetic high.
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