Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Application of the Junctures (sandhi) in a Prahasana’ 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 Prahasana
Bharata states that Prahasana should have two junctures, i.e.
Opening (mukha):
The opening juncture is formed by the combination of beginning (ārambha) and germ (bīja). The germ (bīja) is very small, but, its influence is very huge and pervades the entire drama. Here in the Mattavilāsa Prahasana, the germ is, losing of the begging bowl (kapāla) by Kāpalika Satyasoma “priye, kva me kapālam” (Mattavilāsa, Unni, p.42). The eagerness to obtain the result constitutes the beginning (ārambha). In the Mattavilāsa Prahasana, the beginning is the searching of the lost begging bowl. Therefore, the opening juncture starts with the objective of getting the lost begging bowl (kapāla). It continues up to the mad man enters into the stage.
Conclusion (nirvahaṇa):
Then the second juncture is the Conclusion (nirvahaṇa) juncture.
The juncture is formed with the combination of
Denouement (kārya):
The denouement (kārya) comes in the end of the main plot, which is developed from the beginning. Here in the Mattavilāsa Prahasana, denouement (kārya) is the process of getting the begging bowl by Kāpalika and Devasomā.
Attainment of the result (phalāgama).
Further the attainment of the result is the accomplishment of the result. In the Mattavilāsa Prahasana, the accomplishment of the result is getting of the bowl. Thus, the conclusion (nirvahaṇa) is the mixture of denouement and the accomplishment of the result (phalāgama) leading to the final result. It becomes applied when Kāpalika and Devasomā regain their lost bowl (kapāla) from the mad man and their happiness returns after regaining the bowl. (chiram mayā caritamakhaṇḍitam tapo maheśvare bhagavati bhaktirasti me, tirohitaḥ sa tu sahasā sukhena nastvamadya yat kuśali kapāla! dṛśyase - verse.21).