Mudrarakshasa (literary study)
by Antara Chakravarty | 2015 | 58,556 words
This page relates ‘Use of Arthapatti-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.
3.21. Use of Arthāpatti-alaṃkāra
[Full title: Use of Alaṃkāra in Mudrārākṣasa: Arthālaṃkāras, Nyāyamūlaka (or Nyāyamūla-varga) (1). Arthāpatti]
Rhetoricians like Daṇḍin, Bhāmaha and Mammaṭa did not concider Arthāpatti as a separate alaṃkāra. Uddyota rather included it under Anumāna or Atiśayokti.
But Viśvanātha has given Arthāpatti a separate identity by defining Arthāpatti thus—
daṇḍāpūpikayānyārthāgamo'rthāpattiriṣyate/[1]
The meaning is this, when according to the maxim of ‘stick and the cake’ a fact is concluded from another, there is Arthāpatti. To be more precise, if some cakes were placed on a stick and it is heard that a mouse has eaten the very stick which is a hard object, normally it is presumed that the soft cakes were definitely be eaten by the mouse. This is called daṇḍāpupikanyāya or the maxim of the sick and the cake. Therefore, according to the maxim on the strength of one fact that is specified, another fact comes into the mind on account of the applicability to the latter of the same circumstances which are ascertained with certainty in the former.
Now, let us find out how Viśākhadatta has successfully delineated this unique alaṃkāra in the Mudrārākṣasa. Cf.’
“Citravarmā—the king of Kuluta, the lion like king of Malaya-Siṃhanāda, Puskarākṣa of Kāśmīra (who has destroyed all his enemies), Sindhusena of Sindhu and the fifth king Megha (with an ample cavalry force) of Pārasīkas. I am writing five names. Let Citragupta blot out these names.”[2]
Here, the expression “Let Citragupta blot out these names” indicates Citragupta will never be able to blot the names from the note book of Yama and these above five kings will surely die.
And in the following verse, Cf.—
“Even the heart of an innocent person becomes afraid of untimely call from Cāṇakya due to his heartlessness, what can I say of myself being a criminal.”[3] It is very much clear that even an innocent person is afraid of Cāṇakya because of his cruelty. Therefore, from this it can be assumed that what could be the consequence of a guilty person like Candanadāsa. And this assumption comes on the basis of daṇḍāpupikānyāya, and therefore this verse is a great example of Arthāpatti alaṃkāra.
Over and above act III.27, act IV.1,11 and act VII. 13 of Mudrārākṣasa are some good examples of Arthāpatti-alaṃkāra.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Sāhityadarpaṇa,X.83
[2]:
Mudrārākṣasa, I.20