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
45 (of 134)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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Tuṣṭi, Virakti, Titikṣ� and Kṣānti are all maid servants to Sumati. Among
these unseen characters, Jigupsā representing disgust at sensible pleasures.
Titikṣ� symbolising endurance and Ātmavidyā representing knowledge of Ātman
have been referred to in the eighth Act, spoken of by Abhinivesa as getting ready for
winning Kāma, Krodha and Ahankara respectively.
"My love! Kāma by Aversion, Krodha by Patience, Lobha by Contentment,
Conceit by Spiritual Study and so on" ³
Tuṣṭi representing contentment is referred to by Nārada as swallowing Lobha
in the eighth Act.
"Contentment with five heads came unexpectedly like another Āadiseṣa
newly created and has swallowed up Lobha as if he were a rat."
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Virakti is spoken of by both Nārada as well as Tumburu, and receives
respects from them. Further Tumburu declares that Virakti destroys.
"What can we do to the goddess of Fate who is the embodiment of boundless
cruelty, for she has persuaded men in Samsara to give up wives, daughters,
parents, sons and others whom it is their duty to support and to take up the role of
Sanyasins? we can only bow to her." 5
"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."6
3.
4.
कामो जुगुप्राया कोपस्तितिक्षया, लोभस्तुष्टया, अहंकार आत्मविद्या |
सैषा पञ्चमुखी तुष्टि� शेषसृष्टिरिवापरा �
[kāmo juguprāyā kopastitikṣayā, lobhastuṣṭayā, ahaṃkāra ātmavidyā |
saiṣ� pañcamukhī tuṣṭi� śeṣasṛṣṭirivāparā |
] 5.
6.
S.S. VIII-p.669
अतर्कितमुपस्था� ग्रसते लोभमूषकम� ||
स्वभर्तव्य� भार्यादुहितृपिनृपुत्रप्रभृतिकं विसृज्� प्रव्रज्यामुपनिहितवत्य� भवभृतः �
अमुष्य� कि� कुर्मोनिरवधिकनैर्धृण्यवपुष� नियत्य� भूयिष्टं भवतु भगवत्य� नम इदम् �
स्वमित्रमुपधात्रयप्रथि� शुद्धिलोभात्मक� झटित्यलघुतुष्टिकुक्ष्यनलदग्धमिल्याकुलः �
विरक्तिरणदेवतानिपुणदृष्टिवैश्वानरं प्रविश्य मकरध्वजः पुनरनङ्गतामागत� �
[atarkitamupasthāya grasate lobhamūṣakam ||
svabhartavya� bhāryāduhitṛpinṛputraprabhṛtika� visṛjya pravrajyāmupanihitavatyai bhavabhṛta� |
amuṣyai ki� kurmoniravadhikanairdhṛṇyavapuṣe niyatyai bhūyiṣṭa� bhavatu bhagavatyai nama idam ||
svamitramupadhātrayaprathita śuddhilobhātmaka� jhaṭityalaghutuṣṭikukṣyanaladagdhamilyākula� |
viraktiraṇadevatānipuṇadṛṣṭivaiśvānara� praviśya makaradhvaja� punaranaṅgatāmāgata� ||
] S.S. VIII-41, p.705
S.S. VIII-53, p.714
S.S. VIII-60, p.721
