Karunarasa, Karuna-rasa, Karuṇarasa: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Karunarasa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Karuṇarasa (करुणरस) refers to the “pathetic sentiment” used in dramatic performance (nāṭya). It is a Sanskrit compound composed of the words of karuṇa (pathetic) and rasa (‘sentiment’). This sentiment is produced from a combination of determinants, consequents and complementary psychological states.
Karuṇarasa (करुणरस) or simply Karuṇa refers to the “pathetic sentiment” and represents one of the nine kinds of Rasa (“soul of Drama”), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—Karuṇa i.e., pathos is the sentiment delineated in the circumstances of sorrow. The Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa says that it is enacted through frightened limbs, crying in grief, pale and dry face. This sentiment arises at the death of the beloved one or lovable friends or because of loss of wealth. In this context the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa is seen to follow the Nāṭyaśāstra. According to the Sāhityadarpaṇa, pathos arises in loss of desired things as well as in attainment of unwanted things. Śoka is the sthāyibhāva of karuṇarasa. Kapota i.e., the colour of pigeon is the colour of this sentiment. Yama is the God of this sentiment. In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, it is said that to project the karuṇarasa, the acting is to be done by frightened limbs, sighs, crying in lamentation, pale face and drying up of mouth
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Kavyashastra (science of poetry)
Karuṇarasa (करुणरस) refers to the “pathetic sentiment” or the “sentiment of pathos” as defined by Cirañjīva Bhaṭṭācārya (fl. 17th century).—The basic feeling of karuṇa is sorrow (śoka) and it is generated by excitants (vibhāva) like bereavement of near and dear ones, ensuants (anubhāva) like shedding of tears and variants like debility etc. Though Cirañjīva has not mentioned the colour and deity of karuṇa-rasa, Viśvanātha, the author of the Sāhityadarpaṇa, has mentioned pigion coloured (kapata) as the colour of karuṇa-rasa and the presiding deity is the god of death (Yama). Cirañjīva has classified bereavement (viprayoga) into two types—one is created by one’s going to a distant place and the other is caused by death.
Examaple of the sentiment of pathos (karuṇa-rasa):—
ayi jīvita! pāmaro’ paro bhavatā ko’pi samo na vikṣyate |
yadupekṣya bhavān sthito divaṃ gatamekākitayā nijesvaram ||“On life! no other is seen to be wicked equal to you, as you are alive alone ignoring the fact that your own lord has gone to heaven.” (Mādhavacampū)
Notes: This is the speech of Campakokarikā at the sight of her husband lying dead in the battle field. In this verse the departing of Campakokarikā’s beloved husband is excitant, the debility on the part of Campakokarikā is the variant. With these the sentiment of pathos (karuṇarasa) has been manifested.
Kavyashastra (काव्यशास्त्र, kāvyaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian tradition of poetry (kavya). Canonical literature (shastra) of the includes encyclopedic manuals dealing with prosody, rhetoric and various other guidelines serving to teach the poet how to compose literature.
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Karuṇarasa (करुणरस) refers to the “emotion of sorrow”, according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, [while discussing the outlines of hawking]: “[...] When two birds fly together and one is killed, the survivor mourns pitifully. This excites the emotion of sorrow (karuṇarasa) [rasaḥ karuṇastaruṇāyate]. In the king, the lover’s emotion is discernible in two conditions, that of enjoyment when the quarry is caught, and that of separation when it escapes. [...]”.
Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
karuṇārasa (करुणारस).—m (S) One of the nine rasa or sentiments, that of Compassion. See rasa.
karuṇārasa (करुणारस).—m Pathos.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Pali-English dictionary
Karuṇārasa refers to: the sweetness of c. Mhbv 16;
Note: karuṇārasa is a Pali compound consisting of the words karuṇā and rasa.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Kannada-English dictionary
Karuṇārasa (ಕರುಣಾರಸ):—[noun] (rhet.) a sentiment in poetical works, drama etc. generating compassion.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches (+0): Rasa, Karuna, Raca.
Full-text (+4): Karuna, Pathos, Striraga, Stri, Jambhatika, Kashta, Jambhati, Jambheti, Jambhetika, Devaki, Girishakaruna, Parvatikaruna, Pathetic, Yamadeva, Begging, Calamity, Compassion, Separation, Rasadosha, Shoka.
Relevant text
Search found 44 books and stories containing Karunarasa, Karuna rasas, Karuna-rasa, Karuṇa-rasa, Karuṇā-rasa, Karuṇarasa, Karuṇārasa; (plurals include: Karunarasas, Karuna rasases, rasas, Karuṇarasas, Karuṇārasas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 165 < [Kannada-English-Malayalam (1 volume)]
Page 186 < [Malayalam-English-Kannada (1 volume)]
Page 104 < [Malayalam-English (1 volume)]
Malatimadhava (study) (by Jintu Moni Dutta)
Literary Study (Conclusion) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
Part 1.3b - Karuṇa Rasa (The pathetic sentiment) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
Part 4.3a - Mādhurya Guṇa (sweetness) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]
The Ratnavali-natika and the Chandrakala-natika (study) (by Jewti Boruah)
Part 1.4 - Characteristics of Karuṇarasa (the pathetic) < [Chapter 4 - Literary aspects of the Ratnāvalīnāṭikā and the Candrakalānāṭikā]
Part 4.1 - Discussion on the Guṇa of Mādhurya (sweetness) < [Chapter 4 - Literary aspects of the Ratnāvalīnāṭikā and the Candrakalānāṭikā]
Part 3.21 - Discussion on Chandas (metres)—Conclusion < [Chapter 4 - Literary aspects of the Ratnāvalīnāṭikā and the Candrakalānāṭikā]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 4.8.80 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Verse 4.8.13 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Verse 4.8.31 < [Part 8 - Compatible & Incompatible Mellows (maitrī-vaira-sthiti)]
Kohala in the Sanskrit textual tradition (Study) (by Padma Sugavanam)
Kohala and Nāṭya (3): The concept of Vṛtti < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Kohala and Gītā (14): Tālas for specific Gaits < [Chapter 2 - Kohala as seen in citations]
Part 4 - Citations of Kohala in the Abhinavabhāratī < [Chapter 3 - Kohala as seen in citations—an analysis]
Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study) (by R. Laxmi)
Delineation of Karunarasa or Sentiment of Pathos < [Chapter 4b - Rasa delineation of the play]
Place of Sankalpa-suryodaya in Sanskrit literature < [Chapter 2 - Introduction]