Part 12 - Society in the Ūrubhaṅga

The scholar like A. D. Pusalkar (1940, Bhāsa A Study) hold that Bhāsa is a poet of the Pre-Mauryan or Mauryan period. According to them, his plays describing the sociological conditions are the reflection of the Mauryan age. Even the epilogue of the “Bālacarita” mentions the name of “Rājasimha” (mahīmekātapatrāṅkām rājasiṃhaḥ praśāstu naḥ), which indicates Bhāsa was the court poet of the king Ugrasena Mahāpadma. It may be the glorious period in the ancient history.

However, the epilogue of the Ūrubhaṅga indicates that the king is disturbed by the foreign intruders:

“gām pātu no narapatiḥ śamitāripakśaḥ”.

The people were living with the fear of the attacks from the other kings.

In the administration, the king used to be all in all. He used to have a daily round of heavy duties. He was the head of all the types of state-affairs. The sacrifice (yajña), truth (satya), donation (dāna) and alliance (prakaraṇa) were his principal duties. In any situation, he used to consult his councilors. He was chief of Army, though there was a post of commanders-in-chief. He used to respect the poets, artistsand musicians.

There were four castes, viz. the Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya and Śūdra which were based on birth, in those days.

Brahmins:

Brahmins were the highest ones and par excellence. They were recognized by the sacred thread and were respected by the society. Their duty was teaching and officiating in sacrifice.

Kṣatriyas:

The Kṣatriyas were next to Brahmins. Their duty was to protect the people. They were expert in all types of arms. Their greatness comes through the charities, sacrifices. The Kṣatriyas respect the Brahmin by all means. For Kṣatriyas, battleground was equivalent to the sacrificial ground or hermitage.

Thus, for them the battle was like sacrifice, which was the pride of their life:

“vairasyākvathanam………raṇasaṃjñamāśramapadam rājñām nabhaḥ-saṅkramam”
  –(Ūrubhaṅga, verse.4).

In the war, they used to employ arms like arrows, bows, maces, javelins, swords, hammers.

“vikṣipta……śarakuntakavaca……śūlamusalamudgara”
  –(Ūrubhaṅga, T. Ganapati Shastri, p.90).

To store the arms, the state had to have royal arsenal:

“nṛpāyudhāgāramivāvasīdati”
  –(verse.8).

Vaiśyas:

The Vaiśyas were the traders of jewel, iron, gold and other things. They were also working as florists, painters, washer men, shampooers.

Śūdras:

The Śūdras were untouchables and rarely engaged in religious activities. They were not allowed to read scriptures. They worship gods without chanting mantras.

Cāṇḍālas:

The Cāṇḍālas used to live outside the permitted area, mostly near the cremation ground, because their sight polluted people of other caste.

The people used to live in both rural and urban areas. Though urban life was sophisticated, rural life was peaceful. People used to live religiously. They were cultivating rice, sugar, molasses and other things.

Their dress consisted of two pieces of cloth. For travel, they were using to use horse, elephant, bull, donkey, chariot.

“raṇahatagajāśvanarendrayaudham”
  –(verse.3).

These vehicles were also used in the wartime.

For protection from the sunshine, people were using the umbrella made of palm-leaf that was common; they used it even in the chariot:

“vikṣiptavarmacarmātapatracāmara”
  –(Ūrubhaṅga, T. Ganapati Shastri, p.90).

The Ūrubhaṅga deals with the story of a delicate relation between father and son. The conversation between Duryodhana and his son Durjaya is really heart rending. Duryodhana is worried that he cannot offer his lap to Durjaya. He cannot salute even his father’s feet.

He realizes that he is going to die because of the Pāṇḍavas; however, Duryodhana advises his son Durjaya that he should not create enmity with his uncles (Pāṇḍavas) and he should love and respect them:

“ahamiva pāṇḍavāḥ śuśruṣayitavyāḥ………draupadī cobhe mātṛvat pūjayitavye”
  –(Ūrubhaṅga, T. Ganapati Shastri, p.109).