4.3. Ārabhaṭī-vṛtti

[Full title: The entity of Vṛtti and its use in Mudrārākṣasa (3): Ārabhaṭīvṛtti]

According to Sāhityadarpaṇa, Ārabhaṭī-vṛtti is the fiery one replete with feats such as magic, jugglery, battles, anger, aimless movements and the like which abound with killing and capturing etc.

It has again four sub-divisions, namely,—

1. Vastūtthāpana,
2. Saṃpheta,
3. Saṃkṣipti and
4. Avapātana.^[1]

In Mudrārākṣasa however there’s again no room for the employment of Vastūtthāpana. This variety is considered when the presentation of an object is made through the application of magic or jugglery.^[2] But in this drama, our dramatist did not attempt to make any use of magic or jugglery.

Saṃpheṭa can be defined as the mutual striking of two excited characters in quick succession.^[3] In Mudrārākṣasa however there’s no room for such a situation. However, in the first act of the play, the existence of infuriated speeches and counter speeches by Cāṇakya and Candanadāsa can be found.

Saṃkṣipti has been described by Viśvanātha as, manufacturing of something or creation of something through art or any other way. It also occurs in the acceptance of a dramatic character in place of one disappearing forever.^[4] In Mudrārākṣasa the retirement of Rākṣasa from a state of war-prone to a state of patience accepting ministry shunning the path of war is a perfect example of this.

Avapātana is a state of Pandemonium due to rush, fear, excitation, joy and flying away. In the play of Mudrārākṣasa this state is observed in the introductory verse when Naṭī and the Sūtradhāra were seemingly terrified by the entry of Cāṇakya.

All the three vṛttis of Kaiśikī, Sātvatī and Ārabhaṭī are arthavṛttis . Though the followers of the Udbhaṭa community considers Arthavṛtti as a fifth form of vṛtti, but Dhanika differs from considering this as vṛtti because apart from Kaiśikī etc. no vṛtti by the name of arthavṛtti appears in the rūpaka and the depiction of all the rasas in the rūpaka comes within the purview of these four vṛttis. Thus, as per the explanation of Dhanika there is no place for any fifth vṛtti.^[5]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

māyendrajālasaṃgrāmakrodhodbhrāntādiceṣṭitaiḥ/ saṃyuktā vadhabandhādyairuddhatārabhaṭī matā/ vastutthāpanasaṃpheṭau saṃkṣiptiravapātanaṃ/ iti bhedāstu catvāra ārabhaṭyāḥ prakīrtitāḥ/ Sahityadarpana, VI, 132-133

[2]:

māyādyutthāpitaṃ vastu vastutthāpanamucyate/ Sahityadarpaṇa, VI.134

[3]:

saṃpheṭastu samāghātaḥ kruddhasatvarayordhvayoḥ/ Ibid, VI.135

[4]:

saṃkṣiptivasturacanā śilpairitarathāpi vā/ saṃkṣiptiḥ syānnivṛttau ca neturnetrantaragrahaḥ/ Ibid., VI. 134

[5]:

Daśarūpaka and Avaloka, II. 60