Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)

by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words

This page relates ‘Summary of the Padataditaka’ part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.

7.4. Summary of the Pādatāḍitaka

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The Pādatāḍitaka (Pādatāḍitakam) is one of the four ancient Sanskrit Bhāṇas composed by Śyāmilaka. He probably lived in the last half of the fifth cen. AD. and was most probably a native of Kashmir. Pādatāḍitaka is the largest of all the Bhāṇas included in the Cāturbhāṇī. The work contains one hundred forty eight verses mixed with prose lines.

In the Pādatāḍitaka, Viṣṇunāga, a young Brāhmaṇa youth has been kicked on his head by the popular harlot Madanasenā. He goes near the Paṇḍits with a hope of atonement, but they said that the dharmaśāstras have laid down no atonement for such an offence. However, a Brahmaṇa scholar advises him to call for an assembly of his fellow rakes to get an appropriate verdict. Viṣṇunāga meets different people and gets different opinions on this matter. Finally, it is decided that the harlot would keep her lac-painted foot on the head of the president in front of Viṣṇunāga.

In the play, Buddhism is satirized by the author. In the work, Viṣṇunāga raises the question regarding the teaching of Buddha. According to him, the teachings of Buddha are no where applicable into one’s day to day life. He complains that the Buddhists never think other’s sufferings. He says the following verse in this regard–

śramanissṛtajihvamunmukhaṃ hṛdi ṇissaṅganikhāta sāyakaṃ /
samavekṣya mṛgaṃ tathāgataṃ smarasi tvaṃ na mṛgaṃ tathāgataṃ //^[1]

In the work, a Buddhist Bhikṣu is ridiculed by comparing him with a scrufty man roaming in the street without having any work–

anena hyevaṃ mahatyapi prāḍvivākakarmaṇi niyuktena dhyānābhyāsaparavattayopekṣāvihāriṇeva bhiḳṣunā nātyarthaṃ rājakāryāṇi kriyante.

The author also satirizes the ignoble way applied by a poet of his time. A poet is said to sell his creation in the house of Brāhmaṇa Paṇḍita in lieu of one cup of liquor—

vikrīṇāti hi kāvyaṃ śrotriyabhavaneṣu madyacaṣakeṇa.^[2]

The author laments that if poets start to compose poetical works by exchanging those with wine then not only in his country but everywhere it will be observed in the way.