Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Summary of the Dhurtavitasamvada’ part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.
7.3. Summary of the Dhūrtaviṭasaṃvāda
The Dhūrtaviṭasaṃvāda (Dhūrtaviṭasaṃvādam) is another bhāṇa included among the Cāturbhāṇī. The play is attributed to Ȋśvaradatta. The date of Ȋśvaradatta is uncertain. He was probably a native of Magadha.
In the rainy season, the Viṭa named Devilaka decides to go outside home to pass the day with some amusement. At first, he cannot decide where to go. He cancels his plan of gambling because he cannot afford it. Finally, he decides to go towards the brothel packed street. In the street, he meets different people with whom he makes conversation. Finally, he reach the house of the roguish couple named Viśvalaka and Sunandā, where he passes the day making conversation about different topics related to Kāmaśāstra (science of erotics).
In the play, the popular belief of rebirth is satirized. In the words of Viṭa, the next birth is uncertain–kiṃ punaranyasmin dehagrahaṇe saṃśayite…. For him, present life is the best for making enjoyment. Moreover, according to him, people always speak of the happiness that one can get in the heaven and also speak different tales regarding it.
But, for him nothing is true, all these are mirage only–
ayaṃ tu tapasvī lokaḥ pipīlikādharmo’nyonyānucaritānugāmī prāṇāpāyahetubhiḥ svayamaparīkṣya svargaḥ svarga iti mṛgatṛṣṇikāsadṛśena kenāpyasadvādena vikṛṣyamāṇahṛdayo marutprapātāgnipraveśanādibhiranỵaiśca ghorairjapahomavrataniyamaveśaiḥ svargamabhikāṅkṣate.
For him, real enjoyment is not in heaven, but in this world in the company of the harlots.
In the play, satirical element is also observed when the harlot is compared with a scribe (lipikāra), because both of them may harm one whenever they find any weakness–
bho veśyā lipikāraśca cchidraprahāritvāttulyamubhayaṃ.
Satirical element is also noticed when dice is compared to vulgarian people who are not always kind–
akṣāśca nāmānbhijāteśvarā iva na sarvakālasumukhā bhavanti.
The author also satirizes the young man for whom his father is the cause of headache for his enjoyment of wine, women and dice.