Mudrarakshasa (literary study)

by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words

Hinduism Natyashastra

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Summary: This English study deals with the Mudrarakshasa from a literary perspective, investigating aspects such as metrical style, themes, rhetorics and other poetical elements. The Mudra Rakshasa is an ancient Sanskrit dramatic play (Nataka) authored by Vishakhadatta which deals with the life of king Chandragupta who ruled the Mauryan Empire during the 4th century BCE. Hence this text can also be studied as a historical textbook of ancient India.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Mudrarakshasa (literary study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgement

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. 1. Mudrārākṣasa as a Nāṭaka

. 2. About the Drama

. 3. The title of the Play

. 4. The source of the Mudrārākṣasa

. 5. About the dramatist (Viśākhadatta)

. 6. Date of Viśākhadatta

+ Chapter 2 - Delineation of Rasa in Mudrārākṣasa

. 1. Introduction (the Sanskrit word Rasa)

. 2. The Theory of rasa

. 3. Delineation of Rasa in the Mudrārākṣasa (Introduction)

. 3.1. Use of Vīrarasa (heroic sentiment)

. 3.2. Use of Karuṇarasa (pathetic sentiment)

. 3.3. Use of Raudrarasa (furious sentiment)

. 3.4. Use of Bhayānakarasa (terrible sentiment)

. 3.5. Use of Śṛṅgārarasa (erotic sentiment)

. 3.6. Use of Adbhutarasa (marvelous sentiment)

. 3.7. Use of Bībhatsarasa (odius sentiment)

. 3.8. Use of Śāntarasa

. 4. Conclusion

+ Chapter 3 - Use of Alaṃkāras in Mudrārākṣasa

. 1. Meaning and importance of Alaṃkāra

. 2. Classification and number of Alaṃkāras

. 3.1. Use of Anuprāsa-alaṃkāra

. 3.2. Use of Śleṣa (Śabdaśleṣa)-alaṃkāra

. 3.3. Use of Vakrokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.4a. Arthālaṃkāras (Alaṃkāras that depend upon the meanings of words)

. 3.4. Use of Upamā-alaṃkāra

. 3.5. Use of Rūpaka-alaṃkāra

. 3.6. Use of Utprekṣā-alaṃkāra

. 3.7. Use of Samāsokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.8. Use of Atiśayokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.9. Use of Tulyayogitā-alaṃkāra

. 3.10. Use of Dīpaka-alaṃkāra

. 3.11. Use of Dṛṣṭānta-alaṃkāra

. 3.12. Use of Nidarśanā-alaṃkāra

. 3.13. Use of Sahokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.14. Use of Pariṇāma-alaṃkāra

. 3.15. Use of Vyatireka-alaṃkāra

. 3.16. Use of Virodhābhāsa-alaṃkāra

. 3.17. Use of Vibhāvanā-alaṃkāra

. 3.18. Use of Viśeṣokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.19. Use of Viṣama-alaṃkāra

. 3.20. Use of Asaṅgati-alaṃkāra

. 3.21. Use of Arthāpatti-alaṃkāra

. 3.22. Use of Samuccaya-alaṃkāra

. 3.23. Use of Parisaṃkhyā-alaṃkāra

. 3.24. Use of Kāvyaliṅga-alaṃkāra

. 3.25. Use of Arthāntaranyāsa-alaṃkāra

. 3.26. Use of Aprastutapraśaṃsā-alaṃkāra

. 3.27. Use of Parikara-alaṃkāra

. 3.28. Use of Svabhāvokti-alaṃkāra

. 3.29. Use of Vyājokti-alaṃkāra

. 4. Conclusion

+ Chapter 4 - Employment of Chandas in Mudrārākṣasa

. 1. Chandas, the science of rhythm

. 2. The Chandas employed in Mudrārākṣasa (Introduction)

. 2.1. Use of Sragdharā metre

. 2.2. Use of Anuṣṭup metre

. 2.3. Use of Indravajrā metre

. 2.4. Use of Upajāti metre

. 2.5. Use of Vaṃśasthavila metre

. 2.6. Use of Praharṣiṇī metre

. 2.7. Use of Rūcirā metre

. 2.8. Use of Vasantatilaka metre

. 2.9. Use of Mālinī metre

. 2.10. Use of Śikhariṇī metre

. 2.11. Use of Hariṇī metre

. 2.12. Use of Pṛthvī metre

. 2.13. Use of Mandākrāntā metre

. 2.14. Use of Śārdulavikrīḍita metre

. 2.15. Use of Suvadanā metre

. 2.16. Use of Mālyabhāriṇī metre

. 2.17. Use of Puṣpitāgrā metre

. 2.18. Use of Āryā metre

. 2.19. Use of Gīti metre

. 3. Conclusion

+ Chapter 5 - Adoption of Style and Language in Mudrārākṣasa

. 1. Guṇa: It’s classification and components

. 2. The theory of rīti

. 3. Guṇa and Rīti applied by Viśākhadatta

. 4. The entity of Vṛtti and its use in Mudrārākṣasa

. 4.1. Kaiśikī-vṛtti

. 4.2. Sātvatī-vṛtti

. 4.3. Ārabhaṭī-vṛtti

. 4.4. Bhāratī-vṛtti

. 5. Pravṛtti (traditions according to time and place)

. 6. Subhāśitas occuring in Mudrārākṣasa

. 7. Conclusion

+ Chapter 6 - Other Literary Estimates of Mudrārākṣasa

. 1. Patākāsthānaka used in Mudrārākṣasa

. 2. Employment of ākāśabhāṣita

. 3. Arthaprakṛtis of Mudrārākṣasa

. 4. Kāryāvasthās found in Mudrārākṣasa

. 5. Deliberation of the Pañcasandhi in Mudrārākṣasa

. 6. Characterisation in Mudrārākṣasa

. 6.1. The character of Cāṇakya

. 6.2. Cāṇakya: As the Hero of the Drama

. 6.3. Character of Candragupta

. 6.4. The character of Rākṣasa

. 6.5.1. Minor Male characters of Mudrārākṣasa

. 6.5.2. Minor Female characters of Mudrārākṣasa

Chapter 7 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 16 July, 2023

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