Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Vatsaraja—Author of the drama (Tripuradaha)’ 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 1 - Vatsarāja—Author of the drama (Tripuradāha)
The author of the “Tripuradāha” Ḍima is Vatsarāja; who was a minister and court poet of Paramardideva of Kāliñjara. Not much is known definitely about him.
However, like Bhāsa, Vatsarāja has also written different varieties of drama (rūpakas), i.e.
- Rukmiṇīharaṇa, an Īhāmṛga;
- Tripuradāha, a Ḍima;
- Samudramanthana, a Samavakāra;
- Karpūracarita, a Bhāṇa;
- Hāsyacūḍāmaṇi, a Prahasana and
- Kirātārjunīya, a Vyāyoga.
Vatsarāja was the minister of Paramardideva of Kāliñjara, who ruled from 1163 to 1203 century A.D. and also of Trailokyavarman who succeeded Paramardideva and lasted until about the end of the first half of the 13th century. Therefore, the date of Vatsarāja should be between the second half of the 12th century and the first quarter of the 13th century A.D.