The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practiceKeith, Arthur Berriedale
History
The Sanskrit drama : $b in its origin, development, theory and practice
Keith, Arthur Berriedale
Sanskrit drama -- History and criticism
We cannot say whether Kṛṣṇamiçra’s Prabodhacandrodaya [524] was a
revival of a form of drama, which had been practised regularly if on a
small scale since Açvaghoṣa or whether it was a new creation, as may
easily have been the case. At any rate, his work can be dated with
precision; it was produced for one Gopāla in the presence of the
Candella king Kīrtivarman of Jejākabhukti, of whom we have an
inscription of A.D. 1098. Gopāla had restored, we learn, Kīrtivarman
after his defeat by Karṇa of Cedi, who was living in A.D. 1042, but we
can only guess that he was a general. The play in its six Acts is
devoted to the defence of the Advaita form of the Viṣṇu doctrine, a
combination of Vedānta with Viṣṇuism.
The supreme reality which is truly one, but is united with illusion,
has a son, Spirit, who again has two children, Discrimination (viveka)
and Confusion (moha); the posterity of the latter has largely gained in
strength, and the position of the former and his offspring is menaced.
This is told us at the outset of the drama by Love in converse with
Desire; the former is sure he has done much to attain the result. The
one danger is the old prophecy that there will arise Knowledge
(prabodha) and Judgement or Science (vidyā) from the union of
Discrimination and Theology, Upaniṣad, but these two are long since
parted, and their reunion seems unlikely. The two, however, flee before
the approach of the king Discrimination who is talking with Reason
(mati), one of his wives; to his joy he finds that she is all in favour
of his reunion with Theology which she is fain to bring about. In Act
II we find Confusion in fear of overthrow; he hastens by the use of
Falsity (dambha) to secure Benares as the key of the world; Egoism,
grandfather of Falsity, visits the city and discovers to his joy his
relative. Confusion enters in triumphant pomp his new capital; the
Materialist Cārvāka supports him. But there is bad news; Duty is rising
in revolt; Theology meditates reunion with Discrimination; Confusion
bids his minions cast Piety, daughter of Faith (çraddhā) in prison and
orders Heresy (mithyādṛṣṭi) to separate Theology and Faith. In Act III
Piety appears supported by her friend Pity; she has lost her mother
Faith and is in sad plight, even dreaming of suicide, from which Pity
dissuades her. In Digambara Jainism, Buddhism, and Somism she searches
in vain for Faith; each appears with a wife claiming to be Faith, but
she cannot recognize her mother in these distorted forms. Buddhism and
Jainism quarrel; Somism enters, makes them drunk with alcohol and
pleasure, and takes them off in search of Piety, the daughter of Faith.
In Act IV Faith in great distress tells of a danger; she and Duty have
escaped from a demoness who would have devoured them but for Trust in
Viṣṇu, who has saved them. She brings a message to Discrimination to
start the battle. He musters his leaders, Contemplation, Patience,
Contentment, and himself goes to Benares, which he describes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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