Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study)
by G. D. Jayalakshmi | 2019 | 58,344 words
This page relates ‘Analysis of Karnamula’ of the study on the Jivanandana (in English) which is a dramatic play written by Anadaraya Makhin in the 18th century. The Jivanandana praises the excellence of Advaita Vedanta, Ayurveda (medical science) and Dramatic literature as the triple agency for obtaining everlasting bliss.
Analysis of Karṇamūla
The dramatist introduces Karṇamūla in the second Act.
As this disease happens near the ear, the dramatist makes him a spy who has to listen to all secrets (com. p.102):
ātīva rahasyaviṣayāṇāṃ nigūḍhavṛttyā jṣatiṃ cāratvena śatrukaṭake saṃcaraṇīyatvāt karṇamūlastatkāryocita iti tatra nirdiṣṭaḥ |
He is a tired man when he enters the stage. He has had a long journey into Jīva’s city on Pāṇḍu’s orders. When Pāṇḍu asks for his reports, he hesitates, suiting the character of a loyal spy, to speak before all the commanders of Pāṇḍu. On being ordered by Pāṇḍu, he reveals the secrets about the enemy that he has collected. The protection around Jīva being heavy, he could not even go near him.
But from Kapha and Pitta who were moving about he had gathered the information that no one is allowed to stay in the city since Jīva is engrossed in samādhi
(II.25/26; p.106): ... kvacidapi sthalamalabhamānaḥ sthatumapi nāśaktuvam... |
(II.28/29; p.110): ānantaraṃ ca kāryāntaravyāpṛte ca rājani nūtanapuruṣaparimārgaṇapare ca nāgarike bhikṣo rātrau nāvasarastvādṛśāmatra śayitum ityuktavatsu... |
Being enquired by Pāṇḍu about the nature of people noticed by him there, Karṇamūla explains to him about the three types of people dominated by Vāta, Pitta and Kapha and they all remain loyal to Jīva (II.34):
tatra prakṛtayastisro vātapittakaphātmakāḥ |
tatra yaḥ prabalo vātaḥ sa tu snehairvaśīkṛtaḥ ||
On being again asked about mind, he says that the control implemented by the minister Vijñāna Śarmā has brought manas under the sway of Jīva (II.36):
uddāmabuddhivibhavena manastu tatra vijṣānaśarmasacivena vaśīkṛtaṃ sat |
kārye mahatyadhikṛtaṃ hitakāri rājṣaḥ sarvātmanāpyanusaratyadhunā tameva ||
He also informs that the helpless Jñāna Śarmā, remains silent (II.37cd):
sa jṣānaśarmamantrī tiṣṭhati kevalamasau svarūpeṇa ||
He also fears whether they could conquer king Jīva (II.38/39; p.120):
tasmādevaṃsthite prakṛtimaṇḍale durbhedye ca śatrupakṣe mahadatyahitamāpatiṣyati |
Thus the play-wright portrays Karṇamūla as a special, skillful and efficient secret agent.