Mudrarakshasa (literary study)
by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words
This page relates ‘Use of Vakrokti-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.
3.3. Use of Vakrokti-alaṃkāra
[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Śabdālaṃkāras (3). Vakrokti]
Accepting a different meaning of a sentence for the use of Śleṣa in a word or a change of tone is known as Vakrokti-alaṃkāra.[1]
According to some scholars like Kale and Deshpandey, the very first verse, that is, the nāndī śloka is a good example of Vakrokti alaṃkāra in the Mudrārākṣasa.[2]
Cf.
“O Lord! Who is this fortunate one resting on your head? Śaśīkalā (a lunar digit). Is that really her name? That is, and you were well acquainted with it. How did you forget it? I ask about the woman and not the moon. If you do not believe in the moon, let Vijaya, (your attendant) tell you. May the trickery of such lord Śiva, anxious to conceal the celestial river Gangā from his wife Parvatī, save you.”
Here, Pārvatī tries to know the fact that who is that fortunate lady (in fact Gangā) seating on the head of her husband Śiva. But instead of expressing the actual name, with the help of pun, Śiva tries to show her the digit of moon resting on his head. This tricky answer of Śiva formulate the Vakrokti-alaṃkāra in the verse.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
anyasthānyārthakaṃ vākyamanyathā yojayedyadi/ anyaḥ śleṣeṇa kākvā vā sā vakroktistato dvidhā// Sāhityadarpaṇa, X.9
[2]:
Mudrārākṣasa by R.R. Deshpandey, p.3 and M.R. Kale,p.166