The character of Sumati (the Heroine of the Drama)

[Full title: Major characters of the play Sankalpa-Surodaya (2) Sumati (the Heroine of the Drama)]

Sumati is the Nayika or the Heroine of this drama. Heroine must be possessed of the qualities similar to that of the Hero. She is of three kinds. They are 1. Nayika: 1. Svakiya, 2. Parakiya, 3. Sadharana. Of these three Svakiya type of Heroine is the wife of Hero and possesses the qualities like vinaya, arjava, pativrtya etc. 17. For details see from page 718 to 746

139 The heroine of this drama Sumati can be said as possessive all such qualities and that is why she may be said to be the first type of Heroine.' Sumati represents right thinking or understanding. This Virtue is essential for acquiring vairagya leading to Samadhi. In the drama, she is portrayed as ably and timely assisting king Viveka in his attacking king Mahamoha and his followers and winning a victory over them. Queen Sumati is firm in her conviction. She does not sustain to know the condemnation of Viveka by Vasanta, Kama and Rati. For instance, Kama condemns Viveka. "That prince of fools, Viveka, has suggested a path or dharma called Nivrtti which has been followed by some cruel persons who live in the swamps of the Upanisads, and who want to practise the wiles of black magic against our race. This path or dharma called renunciation is supported by many perverse thoughts such as saying to oneself, "I am not the author of these actions of mine." We hear that a person who follows this path falls into a painful state in regard to such things as looking into other's faults, like one who is blind, deaf, impotent, lame and dumb." 2 To this Sumati wisely responds that ugly persons attribute the ugliness of their own face to mirrors, clear though they are.³ In fact Viveka is a little despondent as a result of these harsh words spoken about him. It is at this appropriate time that Sumati displays her courage of conviction. She points out to Viveka the line of right understanding. Viveka having realised the value of Sumati's words, comes out 1. nh 3. atha nayika tribheda stha'nya sadharana striti | nayakasamanyagunairbhavati yathasambhaveryukta || fatusfanayam ygchagen afdaen eaten || Visvanatha, Sahitya Darpana, III-56-57, p.131-32. asti khalvanabhijnakula sarvabhaumavivekahata kamulakartrtvabhimanadinanavidhavisamadrstisahakrtah kascidasmatkulabhicarakanksibhirupanisadusaranisthaih kaiscinnisthurairanusthiyamano nivrttisamjnako dharmah | yannisthasya purusasya paradosadarsanadisvandhavadhiramukasandadivadatyanta mavasannavasthanamakarnyate || aryaputra, virupah khalu jana nijamukhadosam nirmalesvapi darpanesu samarpayanti | S.S. I-pp. 106-107 S.S. I-p.129

140 spontaneously with the priceless attributes of Sumati : 'yatharthadarsini ', 'yatharthavadini ' 4 What you say is quite true, my dear. You see the truth always, and speak of just what you have seen well : "Like the composition of a good poet, faultless in words and grammar, and capable of representing the different aims of life, which is beautiful with stylistic qualities like lucidity and sublimity, with figures of speech like similes and metaphors, with depth of emotions and the sentiments (or rasas) arising from a description of them - like good poetry, you are spotless and ever bent on attaining the supreme end of life, and like it, you too possess noble qualities and ornaments and display noble emotions." In another context, Sumati expresses pity on Purusa who is likely to fall a prey to king Mahamoha's forces. "How was Purusa who, in his essential nature, is eternal, supremely blissful, spotless, and radiant, thrown by Mahamoha, Conceit, Pride, Hatred and others into the ocean of sorrow, dreadful owing to the impact against one another of the great waves of sin mingled with resistless arrogance."5 Viveka, speaks the virtues of Sumati stating that : My keen - eyed queen! How can we reject what is actually perceived? How can we disbelieve what is said in the Sastras ? 6 ?' On the contrary sometimes Sumati expresses a doubt regarding Purusa's attainment of Salvation. "I am troubled at heart, my lord, with misgivings. In the 4. m 5. devi, satyametat | yatharthadarsini, yatharthavadini ca bhavati | kimcah nirdhutanikhiladosa niravadhipurusarthalambhanapravana | satkavibhanitiriva tvam sagunalamkarabhavarasajusta || aryaputra, katham sa nityanirmalamahanandasantasvayamprakasasarvajanadarsanayogya svabhavah puruso pramukhairapidurvinitairdurvaragarvasamkuladuritamahormisamghatasamghatanabhisane duhkhasagare niksiptah ? S.S. I-64, p.129 mahamohena manamadamamtsara S.S. I, p.135 6. priye suksmadarsini, kim drstamapahnotavyam ? agamikam va kim na pratyetavyam ? S.S. I, p. 135

141 beginningless past, Moksa was never attained before. How and by whom, then can it be attained in the future which too, is endless"?? Though imbude with right understanding, Sumati being Sumati (knowing Paramartha) looses hope on Purusa's progress in attaining samadhi. But this apprehension is only baseless. Because she represents womanhood or Prakrti tattva. On such occasions she is made to realise her role in the path of realisation, by her spouse. Sumati has sheer sympathy for Purusa's pitiable condition. She therefore wants to make him free from the clutches of samsara. Therefore she asks Viveka the way of realisation. Responding to this king Viveka says : - "My dear! You are always desirous of seeing others happy. I will explain clearly the reason for all this, In doing so, I shall only be reminding you of what you already know." "This cycle of births and deaths called Samsara arises from the fruition of sinful deeds done in the past and is of resistless firmness. It afflicts the Jivatma and cannot be easily put down, being all powerful. There is only one thing that can stop its flow and that is the might of Iswara's independent resolve, combined with His natural compassion and this satisfies itself by finding a pretext of vyaja (for the Jiva's deliverance)."8 Sumati is confident of winning success in the fight between her spouse and Mahamoha. "My Lord, just as the Great Boar lifted the earth sunk in the waters of the ocean during Pralaya, so, too, you, my lord, have to lift Purusa sunk in the sea of Samsara. I should like to say this also. I am eager to see your skill in battle similar 7. 8. aryaputra, anadau gate kale alabdhapurvo miksah anante'pyuparitanakale kena katham labhyata iti sankakalankakarburitam me hrdayam || devi anavaratasobhanasamsini, nidanamiha nipunamupapadayan pratipannameva bhavatim pratyabhijnapayami duraseghasthemna duritaparipakena bhavinah pramathi samsarah prasamarahito'yam prabhavati | nirodhe tasyaika nirupadhikakarunyaghatitasvatantrecchasaktih svayamupadhimadhaya ramate || | S.S. I-p. 141 S.S. I-75, p.151-152

142 to that of the Great Boar whose snout rang with the sound of the stream of thick blood flowing from the chest of Hiranyaksa torn by His tusk as from a rugged doorway." 9 Vyavasaya endorses Sumati's opinion : devi, setsyati khalu mangalyanidherbhavatya manyam samihitam "Surely your noble desire will (soon) be fulfilled." Sumati contributes to a dedicated pursuit of Samadhi by Purusa. She boosts up concerted and assidius efforts on the part of Purusa. Narada points out this. That is "Viveka, the emperor, held in the highest esteem by Sumati, has himself, by his own Sattvik nature, got rid of the bands of enemies, both external and internal, He knows how to distinguish between what is smooth (and proper) and what is uneven (and improper) and has created in Purusa superior mental condition." 10 With Viveka, Sumati is equally responsible in achieving the goal. Sumati makes Viveka realise his responsibility of lifting Purusa up from sins and evil forces. "To a Yogi who is a man, there would be a natural attraction to something that resembles a man. My lord, just as the Lord saves the Vedas which had sunk in the ocean, you have lifted them up from the darkness of ignorance into which they had sunk. Are there other forms of the lord similar to this ?" 11 Thus Sumati plays her role till the emergence of Viveka in the Purusa and Sankalpa. She feels superme delight in the victory gained by her spouse, in the fight with Mahamoha. Infact, she shares Supreme happiness. Vivekodaya and rise of Sankalpa in Purusa. When Viveka finds the completion of all preparations for Samadhi, He goes forward to see the place where Purusa is to take to samadhi. He happily says, thus : "This is Sumati's mansion, the mind of pure sattva from whose 9. yathaisa mahavarahah pralayarnava nimagnam bhumimuddharati tatharyaputro'pi samsarasagaranimagnam purusamuddharet | anyadapi bhanami | drdhataradamstragradarita hiranyaksavaksastatakathinakavatasamputotthitaghanasonitanadipravahaghanaghanayamanaghonantarasya yajnavarahasye - varyaputrasya janya naupunam drastumutkanthitasmi || S.S. VII, p.638. 10. sumatibahumatena svatmana satvadhamna bahirabahirudirne varite vairivarge | janayati purusasya jyayasim cittavrtti samavisamavibhedi sarvabhaumo vivekah || S.S. IX-34, p.778 11. manusasya yogino manusasadrse cittasangah sampadaniyah | aryaputra, eteneva tvaya sagaranimagna veda iva mohandhakaranimagnajana uddhrtya raksyante | kim nama paramapurusasyaitadrsani rupantaranyapi bhavanti || S.S. VII, p.625

143) heights we can judge the strength of the texts in the Upanisads. Its glory is proclaimed by many authoritative passages and it is free from Rajas and Tamas."