The backdrop of the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa
by Dhrubajit Sarma | 2015 | 94,519 words
This page relates 鈥淭heme of the poem [Shrikanthacarita]鈥� as it appears in the case study regarding the Srikanthacarita and the Mankhakosa. The Shrikanthacarita was composed by Mankhaka, sometimes during A.D. 1136-1142. The Mankhakosa or the Anekarthakosa is a kosa text of homonymous words, composed by the same author.
Part 4 - Theme of the poem [艢谤墨办补峁囜弓丑补肠补谤颈迟补]
The theme or the subject-matter of the 艢谤墨办补峁囜弓丑补肠补谤颈迟补 is generally the deeds, activities or life of Lord 艢颈惫补 (艢rika峁囜弓ha) and most particularly the annihilation of the Tripuras, the three demons viz. 罢腻谤补办腻办峁, 碍补尘补濒腻办峁 and 痴颈诲测耻苍尘腻濒墨. These three were the sons of 罢腻谤补办腻蝉耻谤补, who was killed by 碍耻尘腻谤补 or 碍腻谤迟颈办别测补. After the killing of their father 罢腻谤补办补, the three sons began to perform severe austerities to please 叠谤补丑尘腻. Being moved by their penance, 叠谤补丑尘腻 appeared before them, and then they asked for immortality, which, however was denied by 叠谤补丑尘腻 and advised them to choose another one. Then they insisted on getting the boon that one and the same arrow released by the opponent in the battle-field might cause their simultaneous death. 叠谤补丑尘腻 agreed and thereafter they became unconquerable. Thereupon, they, with the help of Maya, get constructed three cities made of gold, silver and iron respectively in the heaven, air and on the earth and began to torment the three worlds. The gods headed by 叠谤补丑尘腻 went to the abode of Lord 艢颈惫补, requested Him to do the needful to destroy the Tripuras. The gods getting the consent of Lord 艢颈惫补, prepared a divine chariot from the different things of the universe, wherein 叠谤补丑尘腻 acted as the charioteer, 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, Soma and Agni formed the arrow of 艢颈惫补, the mountain Mandara took the form of a bow, 痴腻蝉耻办颈苍腻驳补 became the bow-string, Indra, Kubera and Yama were the horses yoked to the chariot. 艢颈惫补 marched forth the battle-field along with the 骋补峁嘺蝉 and in the battle, burnt the Tripuras with a single arrow and here the subject-matter of the story comes to an end.
However, the poet adds the 25th canto hereafter, wherein he gives description of the assembly of different poets and scholars, assembled to evaluate the poem 艢谤墨办补峁囜弓丑补肠补谤颈迟补, in the house of 础濒补峁僰腻谤补, the brother of 惭补峁卥丑补办补 and a minister of war and peace. Herein this canto, some important historical information are also found. It may be mentioned here that the purpose of composition of this poem is revealed by 惭补峁卥丑补办补 in his poem. He cites that he composed this poem as a bard, to eulogize Lord 艢颈惫补, who according to him was respected by prostration even by Adribhid i.e. Indra. He also mentions that other poets tend to exalt the deeds of kings. Along with these, he also refers to the command of his deceased father to compose that poem, who appeared before him in the form of Harihara, on one night of 贰办腻诲补艣墨. Thus, keeping with such a sublime purpose in mind, the poet writes the poem 艢谤墨办补峁囜弓丑补肠补谤颈迟补, which is interesting.