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
30 (of 134)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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saving the heaven and earth from Hiraṇyākṣa ard Hiranyakasipu. 7
"I will now instantly wake up Puruṣa from the sleep (ignorance) which had no
beginning, and create in him a state of awakening (knowledge) which will have
no end." 8
But the most relevant exploit of His is to awaken Puruṣa from deep sleep
(3) to self-realisation.
Sankalpa is capable of releasing Puruṣa from the bondage of Samsåra.
"Puruṣa has placed his burden on Him with full faith (Bharanyāsa) and dedication,
and has now steadily fixed his mind on the middle path, namely, that of performing
nitya and naimittika karmas, without any desire for the fruits thereof. He has turned
back from the performance of those Kåmya karmas which are sinful and hence
dangerous. By his glory resulting from the compassion of the Lord, he has got rid of
his sins. I will therefore deliver him (from Samsāra).9
up
Sankalpa has respect for Viṣṇubhakti when she prostrates. Sankalpa lifts her
with all affection and regard. He is an object of adoration to her.
Sankalpa carries sometimes his own dcubts about Puruṣa's eligibility to
attain Mokṣa. Because he is aware that Puruṣa is involved in obtaining wordly
pleasures which is a common trait from the birth of the Universe, i.e. Sankalpa
desires to put Puruṣa to test before finally conferring the blessing on him. However
Viṣṇubhakti suggests to Sankalpa not to entertain such doubts about Puruṣa.
Further Viṣṇubhakti makes it clear that Puruṣa has abandoned all pleasures and
happiness of heaven and has surrendered completely to Nārāyaṇa. He is therefore
considered as worthy of Sankalpa's boon.
7.
अचरन्मधुकैटभान्पयोधीनहिरण्याक्षहिरण्यविप्लुतां द्याम् �
अदशानन कुम्भकर्णघोषां पुनरुर्वीमप� विक्रमैरकार्षम� ||
[acaranmadhukaiṭabhānpayodhīnahiraṇyākṣahiraṇyaviplutā� dyām |
adaśānana kumbhakarṇaghoṣāṃ punarurvīmapi vikramairakārṣam ||
] S.S. X-21, p.815
8.
अनिदंप्रथमां निद्रामपावर्त्� क्षणादहम� �
अनिदंपश्चिमा� पुंस� जनयिष्यामि जागराम� �
[anidaṃprathamā� nidrāmapāvartya kṣaṇādaham |
anidaṃpaścimā� puṃso janayiṣyāmi jāgarām ||
] S.S. X-22, p.815
9.
मय� विनिहितभार� मध्यमे वृत्तिभेदे स्थिरमनसमुपायापायरथ्या निवृत्तम� �
मुरमथनसमीक्षाशेखरेण स्वभूम्न� मुषितनिखिलदोषं मोचयिष्याम� जीक्म् �
||
[mayi vinihitabhāra� madhyame vṛttibhede sthiramanasamupāyāpāyarathyā nivṛttam |
muramathanasamīkṣāśekhareṇa svabhūmnā muṣitanikhiladoṣa� mocayiṣyāmi jīkm ||
||
] S.S. X-23, p.816
