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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

Page:

5 (of 134)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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133
King Viveka. There could be some obstacles brought about by the rival hero,
Mahāmoha and his supporters, still they see the end in miserable failure, due to the
irresistible force of Viveka and Sankalpa.
So far as Viveka's geneology is concerned, the drama expresses that Buddhi,
the devoted wife of Puruṣa (Individual Self) endowed with the three qualities Sattva,
Rajas and Tamas, gave birth to three families each at a time. When one or other of
Puruṣa's three qualities was predominant in him. The first family consisted of Viveka
and others who are averse to his pleasures and pains in life, and the other two of
and Rāga and Mahāmoha who have joined their forces together being associated
respectively with Rajas and Tamas.*
As Rati tells, Viveka is invincible foe of Mahāmoha. He is entrenched in
the strong and rugged fortress Vairagya, and is guarded by his ever-watchful
ministers like Śama Dama etc. He is a warrior that needs no ally and is possessed
of infallible darling.5
As Kāma remarks, Viveka is free from all doubts, has studied the Vedānta
Philosophy thoughtfully and reads about those observances leading to Mokṣa. He
has cultivated the virtues like self-control, and guards his policies from being known
to others (practising in secret the repetition of Aṣṭākṣara), and is always trying to
understand the Gītā with unstinted devotion. Like the Sun who having just risen, is
endowed with brilliant deep-red colour, and proceeding westwards with his light in
the sky, dispels the mist, Viveka too, cultivating the bright virtue of introspection in
4.
5.
त्रिगुणघाटिताद्भोक्तुर्बुद्धिः सती तदनुव्रत� समयनियतोच्छ्रायं त्रेधा कुलं समजीजनत् �
प्रथममिह तद्भोगद्वेष्यं विवेकपुर� सर� द्वितीयमितरज्जुष्ट� रागप्रमोहमुख� मिथः �
[triguṇaghāṭitādbhokturbuddhi� satī tadanuvratā samayaniyatocchrāya� tredhā kula� samajījanat |
prathamamiha tadbhogadveṣya� vivekapura� sara� dvitīyamitarajjuṣṭa� rāgapramohamukha� mitha� ||
]
S.S. 1-46, p.96
आर्यपुत्�, एवमेतत� � तथाप� विषमास्थिरसंस्थानवैराग्यदुर्गप्रतिष्ठितोऽप्रमत्तैः शमदमप्रमुखैरमात्यैरभिरक्षितः स्वय�-
सहायशूरोऽनपायसाहसश्च विपक्ष� कि� ना� कद� करिष्यतीति कलुषित हृदयास्म� ।। [āryaputra, evametat | tathāpi viṣamāsthirasaṃsthānavairāgyadurgapratiṣṭhito'pramattai� śamadamapramukhairamātyairabhirakṣita� svayama-
sahāyaśūro'napāyasāhasaśca vipakṣa� ki� nāma kadā kariṣyatīti kaluṣita hṛdayāsmi ||
]
S.S. I, p. 85
6.
मुकुलयति विवित्सा� मोहविध्वंसमिच्छन� विमृशत� निगमान्तान� वीक्षत� मोक्षधर्मान् �
निशमयत� � गीता� नित्यमेकान्त्यक्त्या गुणपरिषदवेक्षी गुप्तमन्त्रो विवेकः ||
प्रत्यङ्मुखी� सुमतिदीप्तिमि� प्रचिन्वन् प्राप्तोदयोऽप्यामितरागवलोपपन्न� �
[mukulayati vivitsā� mohavidhvaṃsamicchan vimṛśati nigamāntān vīkṣate mokṣadharmān |
niśamayati ca gītā� nityamekāntyaktyā guṇapariṣadavekṣ� guptamantro viveka� ||
pratyaṅmukhī� sumatidīptimiha pracinvan prāptodayo'pyāmitarāgavalopapanna� |
]
S.S. I-61, p.123
क्षाम्यन्नहंकृतिमयीमवशो हिमानी� भास्वानस� भजति विष्णुपद� विवेकः ।।
[kṣāmyannahaṃkṛtimayīmavaśo himānī� bhāsvānasau bhajati viṣṇupada� viveka� ||
]
S.S. I-62, p.124-25

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