Mudrarakshasa (literary study)
by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words
This page relates ‘Use of Shlesha (Shabdashlesha)-alamkara’ of the English study on the Mudrarakshasa: an ancient Sanskrit dramatic play (Nataka) authored by Vishakhadatta which deals with the life of king Chandragupta. This study investigates the Mudra Rakshasa from a literary perspective, such as metrics, themes, rhetorics and other poetical elements. Chandragupta ruled the Mauryan Empire during the 4th century BCE, hence this text can also be studied as a historical textbook of ancient India.
3.2. Use of Śleṣa (Śabdaśleṣa)-alaṃkāra
[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Śabdālaṃkāras (2). Śleṣa (Śabdaśleṣa)]
The expression of more than one meaning through the use of words naturally bearing more than one signification is called Śleṣa.[1] This Śleṣa is of two types—Śabdaśleṣa and Arthaśleṣa. The expression ‘naturally bearing more than one signification’ serves to distinguish Arthaśleṣa from Śabdaśleṣa. According to Sāhityadarpaṇa, Śabdaśleṣa can be divided into eight varieties. Let us examine the
Śabdaśleṣa used in the Mudrārākṣasa by Viśākhadatta, Cf.—
krūragrahaḥ sa ketuścandraṃ sampūrṇamaṇḍalamidānīṃ abhibhavitumicchati balād rakṣatyenaṃ tu budhayogaḥ//[2]
This is an instance of Śleṣa. Because, though ketu actually indicates a certain planet, but here ketu indicates Malayaketu. Again, though the meaning of candra is moon but it implies Candragupta here and budhagraha is none but Cāṇakya. Again, in the same way in Act IV.3 there is Padaśleṣa.
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
Vide., I.6