Analysis of Bhayānaka-rasa

(i) As the play deals with the fight between Jīva and Yakṣmā there is scope for Bhayānakarasa in the play. While the speech of some of the diseases give rise to Bībhatsa, Aśmarīs’ talk about their capacity in the war-craft, gives rise to Bhayānaka.They declare that their attack on the city would be like the pralaya waters engulfing all.^[1]

(ii) In the sixth Act, when Kāla and Karma are present in the antarikṣa watching the happenings on the stage, the famous Puranic episode of Kāmadahanam is quoted by Karma. This occasion has been utilized by the author to present this Bhayānaka sentiment with the beautiful diction.^[2]

(iii) In another place, when Jīva is attacked by the erratic behaviour of Vāta, the effects are described as though a whirl-wind had affected the world.^[3] Such is the effect of Vāta on the body that it creates fear in the mind of the reader/audience.

(iv) Bhayanaka is found also in–

(1) the description of the war between the Goddess Durga with Mahiṣāsura (I.14);
(2) Goddess Candikā’s fight with Śumbha and Niśumbha (I.45);
(3) Rāma’s decision of a war with the lord of waters, Varuṇa (II.15);
(4) when Rājayakṣmā in his anger attempts to attack the enemy immediately (V.38); and
(5) the attack of Jvarāja on Jīva’s body (VI.60).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

II. 20:
velālaṅghiprasarpattaṭaviṭapisamutpāṭanāṭopamūrchatkallolākrāntapṛthvīvalayajanalayollekhasantrastalekhaḥ |
āmbhodhirmā janīti pratikalamudayadvāribhūrībhaviṣyaccūṣatyahnāya vahnirvighaṭitabaḍabāvaktrarandhrādudaṣcan ||

[2]:

VI. 37:
dṛṣṭvā dakṣakṛtāparādhajanitakrodhojjhitāṅgīṃ satīṃ yaḥ śāntastapasi sthitaḥ sa giriśaḥ svaṃ pratyupāttāyudham |
kopoddhāṭitanaiṭilekṣaṇapuṭaproddāmadhūmajvalajjvālājālavijṛmbhaṇena sahasā bhasmīcakāra smaram ||

[3]:

VI.50:
tārāścyāvayituṃ dhanān vikirituṃ kṛtvārkatūlopamān bhitvā pātayituṃ bhuvi kṣitibhṛtāṃ tuṅgāni śṛṅgāṇi ca |
sadyaḥ śoṣayituṃ samudramavanīṃ kartuṃ tu pāṃsvātmanā drāgunmūlya ca bhūruhān bhramayituṃ śakto bhavatyamvare ||