Essay name: Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study)
Author:
R. Laxmi
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This is an English study of the Sankalpa Suryodaya—an allegorical Sanskrit drama by Venkatanatha, a distinguished philosopher-poet and dramatist of the Vishishtadvaita Vedanta tradition. This work of Venkata-natha (or, Vedanta Deshika). stands out for integrating allegory to convey moral and philosophical truths. The thesis examines its place in Sanskrit literature.
Chapter 3 - Significance
52 (of 85)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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universe which can be divided into the pure and the impure.' He further describes
the picture as follows:
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"The picture gallery containing paintings which will put to shame the skill of
even Viśvakarma who can please all beings with his artistic work this picture
gallery will be an ornament even to the Lord who dwells within the heart.
The brilliant rays which issue from the pillars set with gems will look like windows in
the middle of staircase and in the ridge of the roof, as it were, a new painting
executed there."
"2
At the end of this Viṣkambhaka, Samskara suggests the arrival of Viveka
together with Sumati, and Vyavasaya, then exits.
Having in the previous Act, dealt with the choice of a suitable locality for
Purusa's meditation, it is said that the forms of the deities like Brahmā, Śiva etc.
who are subject to Karma, are not fit for meditation. Therefore, for felicitating
Puruṣa's meditation, Viveka asks Samskara to draw the picture of the Universe on
the wall of Antaḥkaraṇa. Accordingly he has carried out the orders. Viveka goes on
seeing the pictures and describes one by one. The pictures that are drawn, are the
Universe and ten Avataras of the Supreme Being.
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This picture gallery, though limited in space, represents the boundless
Universe (in the form of artistic work) and affords a good illustration of the Divine
Person called Dahara-ākāśa who the Upanisad says, lives in the lotus of the heart.³
The first picture which is seen by the king is Lord's nityavibhūti (which is
constituted of pure sattva). Lord's nityavibhūti includes his varied forms like
Para Väsudeva, the Vyūhas (Vāsudeva, Sankarṣaṇa, Aniruddha and Pradyumna)
1.
2.
विदुषश्चिन्तना� शक्त्य� चित्रभित्त� वितन्वता � शुद्धाशुद्� विभागार्� विश्वं विलिखितं मय� � [viduṣaścintanā� śaktyā citrabhitti vitanvatā | śuddhāśuddha vibhāgārha viśva� vilikhita� mayā | ] S.S. VII - 1, p609
विश्वप्रीणन विश्वकर्मरचनाचातुर्य कातर्यदै� शिल्पै� कल्पयती� मण्डनम्स� चेतः स्थितेर्मण्डपः �
[viśvaprīṇana viśvakarmaracanācāturya kātaryadai� śilpai� kalpayatīva maṇḍanamsau ceta� sthitermaṇḍapa� |
] 3.
रत्नस्तम्भ भुवोऽप� रश्म� इम� सोपानगोपानसीमध्य� यत्र गवाक्षयन्त� विहि� प्रत्यग्रचित्रक्रमाः ।। [ratnastambha bhuvo'pi raśmaya ime sopānagopānasīmadhya� yatra gavākṣayanti vihita pratyagracitrakramā� || ] S.S. VII-3, p-612
परिमितमपरिमितानामास्पदमेतत्प्रपञ्चचित्राणाम् �
दहरगगनाभिधान� दिव्यं पुरुषं निदर्शयत� � [parimitamaparimitānāmāspadametatprapañcacitrāṇām |
daharagaganābhidhāna� divya� puruṣa� nidarśayati || ] S.S. VII-6, p - 615
