1. Dramatic aspects (b): Neta (Hero of the Drama)

According to Dasharupakaa hero is the person who has the following characteristics:

[...]^[1]

The hero should be a person with the following characteristics like polite, attractive, liberal, clever, sociable, popular, virtuous, fluent of glorious ancestry, stable and young with the following qualities such as intelligence, energetic, memory, wisdom, proficiency in arts, proud, brave, powerful, elegant, and familiar with policies and righteousness.

According to Sahityadarpana a hero should have the following characteristics-

[...]

A hero should have the qualities like willingness to give up, clever, aristocrat, rich, charming,young, energetic, sociable, imperial, and skilful in nature.

Moreover, both Dasharupaka and Sahityadarpana referred four divisions of heroes: Dhirodatta, Dhiroddhata, Dhiralalita and Dhiraprashanta or Dhirashanta. Here Vancishvara can be include in the first division Dhirodatta with respect to the mentioned qualities. The definition of a Dhirodatta hero is as follows: According to Dasharupaka- [...]

[...]^[2]

A hero, who is with the ability to self control, glorious of great brilliance, very serious, tolerant, not self esteemed, stable and suppressed is called Dhirodatta.[...] In Sahityadarpana-[...]^[3]

The hero with the following qualities such as not self-esteemed, tolerant, insightfulness, stable, humble and resolute in nature is known as Dhirodatta.

Here, the King Vancishvara also had most of the above mentioned qualities. And it can be ascribe by the following situations in the drama.

1. Not self-esteemed (avikatthana)

In this drama Vancishvara took such a difficult task and he successfully completed it. Many characters in the drama appreciated him for this effort in different situations. For instance, after the victory in Kurukshetra war Yudhishthira honoured Vancishvara to express his gratitude for the grand feeding. Yudhishtira said that, in fact the reason behind his victory against the Kauravas was none other than Vancishvara. Therefore, the throne of Uttarabharata, Yudhishthira himself and his all brothers were always indebted to Vancishvara.

But Vancishvara did not think himself that he done such a heavy task he politely replied that-

⁹ [...]

Oh Nobleman! I nothing did special but only followed the system of the clan to fulfil my responsibilities in a virtuous way.

2. Tolerant (kṣamāvān)

Vancishvara took such an effort of food service in the Kurukshetra war without any hesitation. He patiently completed his duties until the end of the war. This enhances his patience and dedication to fulfil his effort.

3. Magnificence (gambhīra)

Both the messengers of Yudhishthira and Duryodhana expressed their admiration while they saw the Vancishvara and his magnificence.

Messenger of Yudhishthira-

[...]^[4]

The kshatriyadharma itself embodied as the Vancishvara and he is a full moon who spreads the moonlight of fame around the world. Obviously this Vanci land also became a holy land because of the righteousness of this great personality.

In the words of Virbhadra, the messenger of Duryodhana–

[...] ¹¹

With the characteristics of a great man he attained the greatness. Though he is a person with ultimate strength, he is very patient and benevolent personality. He punishes the punishable and certainly this person is ‘Rajarshi’ by all means. [...]

4. Resolute in nature (dṛḍhavrata)

The king Vancishvara was very resolute in his nature. His dedication and determination was not variable by any temptations. During the time of Kurukshetra war, Duryodhana’s uncle Shakuni tried to tempt Vancishvara that if he stop helping the Pandavas, he would rewarded with an ample kingdom in the Uttarabharata. But the king rejected his offer and said that suppose even if you offer the entire three world to do any non-virtuous task, the Vancishvara never remember any sin.

[...]^[5]

Hence, by analysing these citations and if they connect with the above mentioned definitions, it is clear that the hero of the drama Annadatricarita, is an example of a Dhirodattanayaka.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid.,40.

[2]:

Ibid, 41

[3]:

Sahityadarpana of Vishvanathakaviraja, Ed. by AcharyaSheshraja Sharma Regmi, (Varanasi: ChowkhambaKrishnadas Academy, 2004), 114-115.

[4]:

Ibid, p. 15

[5]:

Ibid, 26