Mudrarakshasa (literary study)
by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words
This page relates ‘Use of Vibhavana-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.
3.17. Use of Vibhāvanā-alaṃkāra
[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Arthālaṃkāras, Virodhamūlaka (or Virodha-varga) (3). Vibhāvanā]
Rhetorician Viśvanātha Kavirāja has defined Vibhāvanā as—
vibhāvanā vinā hetuṃ kāryotpattiryaducyate/
uktānuktanimitvād dvidhā sā parikīrtitā//[1]
This means that when an effect is believed to arise without a cause, it is Vibhāvanā. This Vibhāvanā is of two types based on the presence or absence of the reason. It is impossible without a cause that an effect can come into existence, as an effect is bound by the rule of presence or absence with a cause. Now, this Vibhāvanālaṃkāra is very nicely presented in some of the verses of Mudrārākṣasa by Viśākhadatta.
The instances are given in the following. Cf.—
ānadahetumapi devamapāsya nandaṃ
sakta’si kiṃ kathaya vairini mauryaputre/
dānāmburājiriva gandhagajasya nāśe
tatraiva kiṃ na capale pralayaṃ gatā’si//[2]
In the former portion of this verse we can find the Vibhāvanālaṃkāra. Because here the Goddess of fortune not only abandoned Nanda, who is the source of delight, without any reason but rather got attracted towards the enemy of Nanda, i.e. Candragupta.
Again, the starting verse of act III, where Kañcukī with dejection recalls that time was there when with the help of the sense organs such as the eye etc., having perceived the objects like form (rūpa) etc. Desire succeeded to bring about its own existence, but the functions of the nature of apprehending their respective objects have now been vanished in these sense organs. Not only have the sense organs suffered, other action organs such as the hands, feet, etc. are perforce giving up their quickness, sharpness or skill. Formerly these organs faithfully carried out the commands of the Desire. But now the old age has arrived and therefore the pining of the Desire is of no use. The craving of the Desire without any cause points to the use of Vibhāvanālaṃkāra.[3]
Act VII.11 is another great example of Vibhāvanālaṃkāra. Much use of Vibhāvanā can’t be found in Mudrārākṣasa.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Sāhityadarpaṇa, X.66
[2]:
Mudrārākṣasa, II.6