The characters of Lobha and Trsna

[Full title: Characters of the play Sankalpa-Surodaya, forming the counterpart of the main hero (5) Lobha and Trsna]

The role of Lobha is introduced in the play as he represents greed. Lobha's aim is to assist Mahamoha and contribute to his success. Similarly, Trsna is brought in the play as she symbolises longing. She is the spouse of Lobha. Her purpose is also to aid Lobha and Mahamoha in their task. Both Lobha and Trsna enter the stage in the fourth Act. Their participation in the. play has been described in the following verse which literally bringsout his nature: "I have come here with my wife Trsna bearing on my head the command of Mahamoha as if it were a garland. Is there any one who can satisfy me with gifts of even spacious worlds all of gold and entire ard undivided worlds long, broad and high."1 The conversation between Lobha and Trsna as quoted below is a testimony to their literal characteristic nature: "Though the mountain of gold, the mountain of silver and such others have 9. 1. guruvadhamukhakrurakrida kathoraparakramah prathitamahitadhvamso daksadhvaraprabhrtisvasau | svayamiha sukharatih svargapavargavighatakah ksanarucipadam ksantya gacchatyamarsahutasanah || mahamohasyajnam sirasi nidadhanah srajamitamaham trsnajanistvaritamiha lobhah samuditah | pradistaistattadrkprathimavikatairhatakamayairakhandairbrahmandairmama ka iva trptim ghatayita || S.S. VIII - 77, p.730 S.S. IV 47, p.433 -

201 been thrown into fill it up my dear Trsna, the slenderness of your stomach shows no swelling at all" 2 "It is surprising that the beauty of your beloved surpasses that of all other beautiful women? However, you have to make, from all the gems to be found in the houses of all the gods and the Asuras, necklaces, armlets, girdles and anklets worthy of my loveliness." 3 True to the letter, the following verse graphically describes the nature of Lobha : "What you have asked for is a very small matter. The gods, the Asuras, the Kinnaras, the Kimpurusas, the Vidhyadharas, sages, men and beasts, all these have been overcome by me. They themselves kill one another looking upon even a piece of chaff, as it were the mountain Meru. Listen to the condition to which, Kubera, the friend of Siva, renowned as the bearer of the title Dhanada, has been reduced by me." "Kubera, who is called the king of kings, never parts with what he has, nor does he enjoy his wealth, with a bewildered mind, he craves for more and more wealth; he never enjoys good sleep and is merely watching over his treasures like an evil spirit." 4 His reply to Krodha as revealed in the following verses, shows what he really is : "Kings get excited and confounded with the desire for a small particle of the earth's dust. The leaders of the gods tremble with fear at the thought that some one may be performing austerities somewhere for winning the position now occupied by 2. kanakakaladhautasailaprabhrtibhirapi hanta puranaih ksiptaih | trsne bhajati samrddhim bhuyo bhuyastavodare karsyam || 3. 4. S.S. IV - 49, p.434 aryaputra tava vallabhaya mama ramaniyatvam sarvaramanisamabhyadhikamiti kinascaryam tathapi devasuragrhagatasakalaratnopaharena mama saubhagyasadrksani harakeyuramekhalanupurani tvaya karaniyani | S.S. IV - p.435 priye, isatkaramidamabhyarthayase | nirjitah khalu maya devasurakimnarakimpurusa vedyadharamunimanusyatiryancah, yatha parasparameva vyatihanyante, yatha va tusakanamapi merum manyante | tatra tavaddhanadabirudavikhyatasya tryambakasakhasya matkrtamavasthamakarnaya labdham na muncati vilaksamatirna bhunkte dhatte punah punarasau mahatim dhanayam | nidrarasam na labhate mahatam nidhinam raksapisaca iva samprati rajarajah || S.S. IV 50, p.435 ->

202 them. When a few beggers are invited some where or other, they are insulted by the others. Thus the world now stands on the side of Durmati's servants Envy and Jealousy." 5 "Possessed by the boundless thirst for wealth, men wander about in all the ten directions; they dig into the earth (for gold and other forms of wealth) and make it uneven; they sing the praise of rich men and carry their paraphernalia; they cross the ocean in ships and declare vain wars." The associates of Mahamoha resolve to construct a Vyuha with Trsna in the centre and march against Viveka. But Vasanta has no confidence in this plan. At this context, Lobha tries to provide courage to his wife. He says, "mighty as our enemy is, there is no reason for you to be afraid; for, you are now surrounded by this array of our great warriors. Trsna feels happy. The Vyuha marches ahead. But all exhibit fear. Lobha in particular is not prepared to act in the absence of their king. Krodha comes out in great anger and wants to know what orders of the king they have carried out. To this Lobha's words of consolation : "Time which flies with the great speed of the Sun's chariot cannot be stopped when there are no contrary winds. The wise man will not try to stop the flood that has run past but will start measures to present future dangers."7 Therefore we should now save our lives. Do not the Srutis say that one should protect oneself at all times and in all places and by all means." 8 5. 6. 7. 8. S.S. IV 51, p.437 S.S. IV 52, p.438 ksudraksonirajahkanasthiratrsah ksubhyanti prthvibhrtastapyeta svapadaya kah kvaciditi trasyantyamartyesvarah | bhiksakesvapi kesucitkvacidupaksiptesvadhiksepatah pakse durmatibhrtyayoriha jagattisthatyasuyersyayoh || atanti harito dasa sthaputayanti visvambharam pathanti dhaninam catun paraparicchadam vibhrati | taranti jaladhim plavaih samaramarabhante mudha durantadhanadohalagrahilacetaso dehinah || atikraman kalastapanarathavegena mahata na roddhum sakyeta prativahanavatularahitah | gatastrotorodhe na khalu yatitavyam kutadhiya tadarambhah sreyanuparitanabhitipratibhatah || tadatrayustavadasmabhirabhiraksaniyam | "sarvata evatmanam gopayet iti he sruyate | " S.S. IV 60, p.445 S.S. IV - p.446