Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Application of the Junctures (sandhi) in a Ihamriga’ of the English study of the Dasarupaka of Dhananjaya: an important work on Hindu dramaturgy (Natya-shastra) from the tenth century dealing with the ten divisions of Sanskrit drama (nata), describing their technical aspects and essential dramaturgical principals. These ten types of drama are categorised based on the plot (vastu), hero (neta) and sentiment (rasa)
Part 10 - Application of the Junctures (sandhi) in a Īhāmṛga
According to the rules of the Nāṭyaśāstra, the Īhāmṛga should have three junctures, i.e.
- opening (mukha),
- progression (pratimukha) and
- concluding (nirvahaṇa).
The Opening Juncture (Mukhasandhi) –
The opening juncture is created by the combination of the germ (bīja) and beginning (ārambha) with various objects and sentiments. The germ (bīja) looks very small but works very effectively and brings out the result. The beginning encourages the main characters to obtain the result.
In the Rukmiṇīharaṇa, the germ is “the marriage of Kṛṣṇa and Rukmiṇī”:
“rukmiṇīkṛṣṇavivāhāya kṛtapratiñjā”
–(Rukmiṇīharaṇa, C. Dalal, p.37).
The juncture ends with the promise of Balarāma to kill Śiśupāla in the war.
The Progression Juncture (Pratimukhasandhi) –
In the progression juncture, the germ is developedand becomes perceptible due to its quality. The juncture is created by the combination of drop (bindu) and effort (prayatna). The drop is the cause of the plot to last longer and the effort is conducive to the result. In the second act, plot progresses by the drop and with the help of effort. Kṛṣṇa, Balarāma and Akrūra plan about the war. Their effort becomes fruitful when they find the astrologer to know the proper day for the journey. Finally, they take the advice and blessings of Devakī and Vasudeva to start the journey for Kuṇḍinapura. In this juncture, the objective of Kṛṣṇa becomes more positive after getting the invitation from Śiśupāla, for his marriage with Rukmiṇī. Then at the end of the third act the result is indicated when Śiśupala’s left eye throbs and he was terrified with fear.
The Concluding Juncture (Nirvahaṇasandhi) -
The concluding juncture is the attainment of result of the matters, which happened in the opening juncture and the progression juncture. The juncture is created by the combination of the denouement (kārya) and the attainment of the result (phalāgama). The denouement pushes towards the result, taking the help of matters, which occured in the various stages and junctures. The attainment of the result is the accomplishment of the goal. In the Rukmiṇīharaṇa, the last act consists of the concluding juncture. Kṛṣṇa abducts Rukmiṇī, when she was worshipping Indrānī. On the other side, Balarāma and Sātyaki were fighting with Śiśupāla. Kṛṣṇa left Rukmiṇī near Subuddhī and Suvatsalā and joined Balarāma and Sātyaki to fight Śiśupāla and Rukmī. After a long fighting, Śiśupāla and Rukmī were defeated and dismissed with strong warnings. At the end, Subuddhī becomes happy, watching the smile on the face of Rukmiṇī.
Kṛṣṇa concludes with the words that the objective was accomplished by the favour of the goddess only:
“devyā eva prasādo’yam………tato’pyadhikamasti me”
–(IV.28).