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
As little can any conclusion of Greek borrowing be drawn from the
Yavanīs, Greek maidens, who are represented as among the body-guard of
the king; [125] for this the Greek drama offers no parallel; it
represents the fondness of the princes of India [126] for the
fascinating hetaerae of Greece, and the readiness of Greek traders to
make the high profits to be derived from shipping these youthful
cargoes.
The points of resemblance in regard to the plot are of interest. There
is some similarity between the stock theme of the Nāṭikā, the love of a
king for a maiden, hindered by various obstacles, and finally
successful through events which reveal her as a princess, destined for
him in marriage but concealed in this aspect by some accident, and the
New Comedy picture of the youth whose affection for a fair lady,
apparently of status which forbids marriage by Attic law, but in
reality of equal birth, is finally rewarded by the discovery of the
mark which leads to her identification. The use of a mark of
recognition is undoubtedly common in both dramas. We have in the
Çakuntalā the ring [127] which gives part of the title of the play
Abhijñāna-Çakuntalā, and in the Vikramorvaçī the stone of reunion
(saṁgamamaṇi) which enables Purūravas to recognise his beloved despite
her change into a creeper. In the Ratnāvalī we have the necklace which
permits the identification of the heroine; in the Nāgānanda, the jewel
which, falling from the sky, denotes the fate of the prince; in the
Mālatīmādhava the garland plucked by Mādhava, worn by Mālatī, which
Saudāminī produces at the dénouement as a sign of recognition; and in
the Mṛcchakaṭikā the clay cart in which are placed the jewels used as
evidence against the hero. In the same general category fall the ring
of the queen in the Mālavikāgnimitra, which the Vidūṣaka obtains from
her in order to cure a snake-bite, and employs to bring about the
release of Mālavikā; the arrow of Āyus, in the Vikramorvaçī, which
reveals to Purūravas his son; and the seal of Rākṣasa in the
Mudrārākṣasa of which Cāṇakya makes use to confound his schemes. In
some cases the similarity of use of these emblems is close; Mālavikā,
taken away by brigands, and Ratnāvalī, rescued from the sea, are real
parallels to the heroine of the Rudens, stolen from her father by a
brigand, sold to a leno and wrecked on the Sicilian coast, whose
recognition is brought about by the discovery of her childish
ornaments.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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