Analysis of Vidūṣaka

Vidūṣaka, as friend of Jīva the hero, is introduced in the fourth Act. He also takes part in the happenings of the royal palace in the sixth Act. He speaks in Prākṛt and sometimes in Sanskrit also. As is usual with the character of a Vidūṣaka, his entry is into the royal kitchen; the aroma from the prepared food items inspires him to eat more in the kitchen itself; but the chief chef Bhadramukha refuses to give him food.^[1] The disappointed Vidūṣaka now seeks the help of the king who is indeep conversation with the minister.

The dramatist utilizes his role to indirectly bring in the Bhasmaka roga which starts its attack on the hero through excess hunger. Vijñāna Śarmā diagnoses this problem rightly and administers remedy in the form of medicinal preparations. Since Vidūṣaka insists on having more tasty food, the hero, sends him to the queen for royal lunch.

His next appearance is in the royal garden (Act IV) when the king and the queen go there for a swing-sport. There, he misquotes the first song sung by Padmamukhī, a damsel of the harem, which makes everyone laugh and thus, the touch of comic sentiment is brought in by the dramatist.^[2]

In the sixth Act, Vidūṣaka accompanies the king, who is afflicted by Atibubhukṣā (excess hunger), an initial stage of the disease called Bhasmakaroga. Jīva desires various food items and yearns to eat more and more.^[3]

Jīva agrees with Vidūṣaka to go to the royal kitchen. On being prevented by the minister, Vidūṣaka replies, that he would be the keeper now, for the king, who like himself wishes to eat as much as possible. He feels that the king, like a hungry tiger, is desirous to eat all and is angry like lord Śiva at the time of great deluge.^[4]

Vidūṣaka’s bungling ways now help the minister to be cautious and he takes immediate action to divert the king’s attention by moving to the balcony from where the fight between the diseases and the medicines could be viewed^[5].

The Vidūṣaka as usual asks very stupid questions which make the viewers laugh. The clever author thus brings again the Comic sentiment even in a very serious situation. The silly questions raised by the Vidūṣaka, are answered by the minister with seriousness. The role of Vidūṣaka is fully utilized here in the description of the fight.

Ignorance, friendship with the king and enmity with the minister are the main characteristic features of the Vidūṣaka in this drama.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

IV.1/2; p.181:
... bahuvidhabhājanaviśeṣaiśca pariśobhamānasya mahānasasya visṛmaro gandhaḥ | ghumaghumāyate me nāsāvilam | silasilāyate tālurasanāmūle sunirgatvaraṃ lālājalam |

p.184:
“yadi tava bubhukṣā tato rājṣaḥ samīpaṃ gatvā bhojanaṃ dātavyamiti pṛccha | āhamudaraṃbharestava kimapi na dāsyāmi” | iti bhaṇitvā mahanasābhyantaraṃ gataḥ |

[2]:

IV.42 and ensuing dialogue.

[3]:

This sudden desire in the mind of the king is due to the visit of Apathyatā, who is the mother of this’excess desire’–bahububhukṣā. She is sent by Pāṇḍu to attack Jīva. The dramatist presents this scene in an inspiring way through this character Vidūṣaka.

[4]:

VI. 35/36; p.334:
bubhukṣito vyāghra iva sarvaprakṛtīnāmasmākaṃ jīvanaṃbhakṣitukāmo rājā | mā khalvenaṃ nivāraya | yat pralayakālakha iva kupitastiṣṭhati |

[5]:

VI.41/42; p.342: mantrīḥ–
... āsya cittaṃ bahubhakṣaṇāyattamanyatra vyākṣipāmi | sa evāsya pratīkāraḥ | (prakāśam) prāsādasyopari calatu devaḥ | tatraiva saṃpādyate mahatī tṛptiḥ |