Harshacharita (socio-cultural Study)
by Mrs. Nandita Sarmah | 2014 | 67,792 words
This page relates ‘Sanskrit Kavya and its Divisions� of the English study on the Harshacharita: A Sanskrit (poetical work) which can be studied as a Historical book of Indian society during the 7th century. It was originally written by Banabhatta who based his Harsacarita on the life of the Gupta emperor Harshavardhana. This study researches the religion, philosophy, flora and fauna and society of ancient India as reflected in the Harsha-Charita.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
Part 1: Sanskrit Kāvya and its Divisions
The Sanskrit rhetoricians have given different opinions on 屹ⲹ. Bharatamuni,[1] the profounder of rasa school, says that rasa is the most fundamental requisite in a 屹ⲹ. According to 峾[2] 屹ⲹ is a melodious form of word and meaning. ĀԲԻ岹Բ[3] states that dhvani is the soul of 屹ⲹ. Again, that īپ is the soul of poetry as stated by 峾Բ.[4] ʲԻ徱ٲᲹᲹԲٳ[5] defines 屹ⲹ as the word which produces a pleasing meaning. վśٳ Ჹ[6] gives the most authentic definition on 屹ⲹ that rasa or the sentiment is the spirit of poetry. The above definitions surely establish that 屹ⲹ is an impulsive outflow of human heart.
վśٳ Ჹ[7] gives the modern concept on 屹ⲹ; he divides 屹ⲹ into two types� viz., ṛsⲹ and śⲹ. The word śⲹ[8] suggests that type of 屹ⲹ which can only be listened to. It is again divided into two types,[9] viz., padya (verse) and the gadya (prose). Padya is also subdivided into three types� viz., ś, khaṇḍa屹ⲹ and mahā屹ⲹ. Gadya屹ⲹ has also two divisions, 첹ٳ and ⾱. Apart from these two, there is another form of 屹ⲹ known as miśra屹ⲹ (mixture of verse and prose), which is also of three types viz., viruda, karabhaka and ū.
The word ṛaśⲹ, on the other hand, suggests that type of 屹ⲹ which can be demonstrated or to be seen. It generally implies to 屹ⲹ presented with audio-visual effects. Through the dṛśya屹ⲹ, human emotions can easily be released. Dṛśya屹ⲹ has two broad divisions-ū貹첹 and ܱ貹ū첹. Here, ū貹첹[10] has ten and ܱ貹ū첹[11] has eighteen verities. վśٳ,[12] asserts that it is that type of 屹ⲹ where there is action. There are four types of acting[13] (abhinaya) viz. ṅg첹 (physical), 峦첹 (verbal), ⲹ (decorative), and ٳٱ첹 (emotional).
Footnotes and references:
[3]:
屹ⲹsyātmā dhvaniriti, ٳԲǰ첹.,1.1
[4]:
īپrātmā 屹ⲹsya, 屹ṅksūtravṛtti,1.2.6
[9]:
Ibid.
[10]:
Ibid., VI.3
[11]:
Ibid.,VI.4-6
[13]:
Ibid.,VI.2