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
60 (of 85)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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103
Then Nārada informs that Lobha, armed with the weapon of Viparita - buddhi
which makes the enemies fall senseless, is rushing like Ekalavya. But he is then
swallowed up by tuṣṭi possessing five faces in the form of five jñānendriyas.
Then Kāma enters who is advancing bow in his hand with an army consisting
of young lovely women. "He has arrows of different colours tipped with honey given
to him by his esteemed friend, Vasanta ; Kokilās are the healds who sing his praise
and swarms of bees form his twanging bow string. He is allied with the breeze
blowing from the mountain Malaya and has the shark as his banner." 7
-
This Kāma marching against Viveka. "This Manmatha, armed with his bow of
flowers and displaying his banner with the emblem of the shark is coming to the fight
being delighted with the array of his lovely women in military formations resembling
chariots, elephants and horses in order to please Rati with his heroism." At the
same time Viveka, the conqueror of the world, is discharging a counter - missile in
the form of woman, namely Virakti to overthrow Kāma.
" 8
"Having learnt, with great concern, that his friend, Lobha, whose loyalty had
been proved to be sound by provocative tests in the form of bribes of three kinds
(dharma, artha and Kāma) - having heard that this true friend, Lobha, had been
consumed in the great digestive fire of contentment, Manmatha entered into the fire
of the broad vision of Virakti who was like the deity presiding over the battle field and
he became deprived of his body once again."
" 9
After Kāma is burnt to ashes, the demon, Krodha is approaching the battle -
field. "This raging fire called Krodha is known to be very powerful and if roused, he
will consume not only the entire army of his enemies but also all the mountains, the
7.
महितमधुप्रदिष्टमधुदिग्धविचित्रशर� परभृतवन्दिमान् भ्रमरसंहतिगीतगुण� �
मलयमरुत्सख� मक� लक्ष� केतुरस� घृतधनुरभ्युपैत� मदनः प्रमदापृतन� � [mahitamadhupradiṣṭamadhudigdhavicitraśara� parabhṛtavandimān bhramarasaṃhatigītaguṇa� |
malayamarutsakho makara lakṣaṇa keturasau ghṛtadhanurabhyupaiti madana� pramadāpṛtana� || ] S.S. VIII - 48, p. 710
रथवारणवाजिभि� प्रहृष्यन्माहिलारत्नसमूहने� सिद्धै� �
[rathavāraṇavājibhi� prahṛṣyanmāhilāratnasamūhanena siddhai� |
] 8.
मकरध्व� एष पुष्पधन्वा रणमभ्येत� रतिप्रियापदानः [makaradhvaja eṣa puṣpadhanvā raṇamabhyeti ratipriyāpadāna� ] 11 S.S. VIII-56, p. 718
9.
स्वमित्रमुपधात्रयप्रथितशुद्ध� लोभात्मक� झटित्यलघुतुष्टिकुक्ष्यनलदग्धमित्याकुलः �
विरक्तिरणदेवताविपुलदृष्टिवैश्वानरं प्रविश्य मकरध्वजः पुनरनङ्गतामागत� [svamitramupadhātrayaprathitaśuddhi lobhātmaka� jhaṭityalaghutuṣṭikukṣyanaladagdhamityākula� |
viraktiraṇadevatāvipuladṛṣṭivaiśvānara� praviśya makaradhvaja� punaranaṅgatāmāgata� ] II S.S. VIII-60, p. 721
