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 5 - Philosophical doctrines
12 (of 28)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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large. 20 It is really a note worthy point because this is highlighted by Vedānta
Desika himself.
These preceptors have laid down the tradition on the basis of the scriptural
statements. It is that Lord Nārāyaṇa being worshipped by means of Yāga, Dāna,
Homa, Arcanā, Bharasamarpaṇa, Dhyāna etc. grants to all embodied beings, the
fruits of their actions, in accordance with each individuals Varṇa and Āśrama. This
tradition is pointed out in the drama.21
This Visiṣṭādvaita philosophy propounded by Rāmanuja is well in tune with
the philosophy of the Upanisads. Therefore, it is free from blemishes. Still some
perverted persons find faults in his philosophy; but by doing so they themselves
become blameworthy. It is just like one who tries to make the sky impure by mire
raised by his own hands, that mire ooz down his own limbs but the sky does not get
impure. 22 So far as the essence of the Vedanta is concerned, Venkaṭanātha states
that by the study of the sculptures, the pure Soul turns away his mind from the
pleasures of the world. As such his intellect becomes more matured for the
cultivation of meditaion and for the other Niśkāma Karmas. This makes him eligible
to gain the grace of the Lord. He cultivates Bhakti and steps ahead as Prapanna.
Thereby, that individual Soul attains salvation. 23
When Jiva adopts the means of realisation, preceptors favour is quite
essential to win. Because just as evil spirits bind a child, Kāma, Krodha, Ahaṃkāra
etc. catch hold of the individual Soul. And as a great magician makes the child free
from the grip of evil spirits, the preceptor also destroys Kāma, Krodha etc. of a
20.
वित्रासिनी विबुधवैरिवरूथिनीना� पद्मासने� परिचारविधौ प्रयुक्त� �
उत्प्रेक्ष्यते बुधजनैरुपपत्तिभूम्ना घण्ट� हरेः समजनिष्ट यदात्मनेति �
[vitrāsinī vibudhavairivarūthinīnā� padmāsanena paricāravidhau prayuktā |
utprekṣyate budhajanairupapattibhūmnā ghaṇṭā hare� samajaniṣṭa yadātmaneti ||
] 21.
22.
23.
S.S. 1-14, p-40
यथाधिकरण� प्रभुर्यजनदानहोमार्चनाभरन्यसनभावनाप्रभृतिभिः समाराधित� �
फल� दिशत� देहिनामिति हि संप्रदायस्थिति� श्रुतिस्मृतिगुरूक्तिभिर्नयवतीगिराभाति नः ||
श्रुतिश्रेणीचूडापदबहुमते तावकमत� स्वपक्षस्थान्दोषन्वितथमतिरारोपयत� यः �
स्वहस्तेनोत्क्षिप्तै� � खल� निजगात्रेष� बहुल� गलद्भिर्जम्बालैर्गगनतलमालिम्पत� जड� �
निरपायदेशिकनिदर्शितामिमा� कमलासहायकरुणाधिरोहणीम् �
क्रमशोऽधिरुह्य कृतिनः समिन्धते परिशुद्धसत्त्वपरिकर्मिते पद� ||
[yathādhikaraṇa� prabhuryajanadānahomārcanābharanyasanabhāvanāprabhṛtibhi� samārādhita� |
phala� diśati dehināmiti hi saṃpradāyasthiti� śrutismṛtigurūktibhirnayavatīgirābhāti na� ||
śrutiśreṇīcūḍāpadabahumate tāvakamate svapakṣasthāndoṣanvitathamatirāropayati ya� |
svahastenotkṣiptai� sa khalu nijagātreṣu bahula� galadbhirjambālairgaganatalamālimpati jaḍa� ||
nirapāyadeśikanidarśitāmimā� kamalāsahāyakaruṇādhirohaṇīm |
kramaśo'dhiruhya kṛtina� samindhate pariśuddhasattvaparikarmite pade ||
] S.S. IX 6, p-752
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S.S. II 32, p-244
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S.S. II 81, p-161
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