Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Ullekha (representation)’ 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.
1.6. Ullekha (representation)
The description of one under different characters arising from a difference of perceivers or from difference of the objects is termed as Ullekha[1]. Viśvanātha Kavirāja gives two varieties of Ullekha. For him, the first is that where a particular object is perceived by different persons in different ways through causes. The second is that where one and the same thing is narrated in different ways on account of the difference of viṣaya, although there are not many perceivers. In the verse, śūro doṣākaraḥ…[2] etc. of the Deśopadeśa, it is mentioned that a powerful person (the sun) mine of defects (the moon) to women, a crooked (Mars) in thought, learned (Mercury) in wickedness, in sin as great as Jupiter, bright in extravagance as Venus. The Viṭa (libertine) slowly moves like Saturn in street. The verse may be taken as an instance of Ullekha.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
kvacid bhedād grahītṛṇāṃ viṣayāṇāṃ tathā kvacit/
ekasyānekadhollekho yaḥ sa ullekha ucyate// Sāhityadarpaṇa , X.37