Dasarupaka (critical study)
by Anuru Ranjan Mishra | 2015 | 106,293 words
This page relates ‘Application of the Junctures (sandhi) in a Vithi’ 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 Vīthī
The Līlāvatīvīthī contains one-act and two junctures as per the rule. The junctures (sandhi) are:
- the opening juncture (mukhasandhi) and
- the conclusion juncture (nirvahaṇasandhi).
The opening Juncture (Mukhasandhi): –
The opening juncture results from the combination of the seed (bīja) and the beginning (ārambha), which also consists of various purposes and sentiments.
In the Līlāvatīvīthī, the opening juncture results from the words of Vidūṣaka that:
“līlāvatīm nāma kanyakām tasmād durghaṭānmocayitvā virahotkaṇṭhitena priyavayasyena saha saṅghaṭayitumicchan gacchāmi”
–(Līlāvatīvīthī, Trivandrum Univ. Pub., p.5).
Vidūṣaka wants to unite the King with Līlāvatī. The union of the king with Līlāvatī was possible due to the efforts of Viduṣaka and the help of Yoginī Siddhimatī and the eagerness of Vīrapāla and Līlāvatī, to marry each other. The combination of these two makes the opening juncture.
The opening juncture continues up to the king Vīrapāla’s meeting with the queen Kalāvatī and the cobra incident:
“mahārājam kenāpi kāryāntareṇa kaḥ kālo me draṣṭukāmāyāḥ”
–(Līlāvatīvīthī, Trivandrum Univ. Pub., p.22).
The Conclusion Juncture (Nirvahaṇa sandhi): –
The conclusion juncture results from the combination of the denouement (kārya) and the attainment of result (phalāgama). It is the result of the seed and the matter of the opening and other junctures are brought together at the end.
In the Līlāvatī, the marriage of the king Vīrapāla to Līlāvatī, arranged by the queen Kalāvatī, after seeing the dream, is the denouement,
“tadetu mahārājo līlāvatīpāṇigrahaṇamaṅgalamanubhavitum”
–(Līlāvatīvīthī, Trivandrum Univ. Pub., p.26).”
Whereas the union of Vīrapāla and Līlāvatī is the result,
“gatāsumasurādhamam sarabhasam vidhāya svayam śareṇa karapallave ca parigṛhya līlāvatīm”
–(verse.57).
Here the getting back of Līlāvatī after defeating Tāmrākṣa, is the conclusion juncture. According to the Nāṭyaśāstra (XX.45), the conclusion juncture always should contain the marvellous (adbhuta) sentiment.
Further, in the Līlāvatīvīthī, the success of Siddhimatī and Līlāvatī’s abduction manifest of the marvellous (adbhuta) sentiment.