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 4a - Characterisation of the play
24 (of 134)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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With his efficiency in putting down the rival shools, he upholds Visiṣṭādvaita:
"The tip of the Acarya's tongue shines bright - being the throne on which is
seated Hayagriva. So we do not consider any deity higher than the Acārya. Even
Nārāyaṇa plays the part of the Acārya without ever giving up His Supreme
greatness in order to save those who are sunk in the sea of Samsara."4
Vyavasaya possesses firm faith in the Guru. Therefore he emphatically
declares thus :
"What a man obtains from a single glance or two of the Ācārya cannot be
obtained from any one ele's three or eight or even a thousand eyes." 5
Vyavasaya always keeps his eye on the philosophical discussions and makes
a significant remark causing awareness in the mind of Viveka. It can be witnessed
by his words as below:
"Like the Jains, they, too, being unable to endure the words of our friend are
trying to promote faith in their system by some deceitful trick like causing rains out
of season."
"6
In the seventh act, As per the command of Viveka, Vyavasaya asks saṃskāra
to draw the picture of the universe on the wall of the mind. The painting seen in this
picturescroll, of the past and future, appear to us without exception just like present
events. Because they have been depicted with full faith in authorities or Pramaṇas
like the Vedas and Puraṇas.
Vyavasaya remarks that such picture should not be seen by Puruṣa.
Because he is expected to concentrate his mind on the Vibhūtis of the Lord. It is
clear from his words as below :
4.
5.
ம்
6.
अध्यासीनतुरङ्गवक्त्रविलसज्जिह्वाग्रसिंहासनादाचार्यादि� देवतां समधिकामन्यां � मन्यामहे �
यस्यास� भजते कदाचिदजहम्दूमा स्वय� भूमिका� मग्नानां भविनां भवार्गवसमुत्तारा� नारायण� ।। [adhyāsīnaturaṅgavaktravilasajjihvāgrasiṃhāsanādācāryādiha devatā� samadhikāmanyā� na manyāmahe |
yasyāsau bhajate kadācidajahamdūmā svaya� bhūmikā� magnānā� bhavinā� bhavārgavasamuttārāya nārāyaṇa� || ] S.S. II-63, p.282
एकयै� गुरोर्दृष्टय� द्वाभ्या� वापि लभेत यत� �
� तत्तिसृभिरष्टाभि� सहस्रेणप� कस्यचित् �
दे�, अमी पुनरार्यवचनमसहमाना दिगम्बरादिवत� केनापि विप्रलम्भोपाये� स्वसिद्धान्त श्रद्धासंवर्धनाय
प्रयतन्त� � तत्र तावदिमां प्रत्यायनामारचयन्तिद्धूयदकाण्ड एव वर्षास्मयमादर्शयन्ति ।।
[ekayaiva gurordṛṣṭayā dvābhyā� vāpi labheta yat |
na tattisṛbhiraṣṭābhi� sahasreṇapi kasyacit ||
deva, amī punarāryavacanamasahamānā digambarādivat kenāpi vipralambhopāyena svasiddhānta śraddhāsaṃvardhanāya
prayatante | tatra tāvadimā� pratyāyanāmāracayantiddhūyadakāṇḍa eva varṣāsmayamādarśayanti ||
] S.S. 11-62, p.281
S.S. II, p.299
