Shishupala-vadha (Study)
by Shila Chakraborty | 2018 | 112,267 words
This page relates ‘Introduction’ of the study on the Shishupala-vadha (in English) in the light of Manusamhita (law and religious duties) and Arthashastra (science of politics and warfare). The Shishupalavadha is an epic poem (Mahakavya) written by Magha in the 7th century AD. It consists of 1800 Sanskrit verses spread over twenty chapters and narrates the details of the king of the Chedis.
Introduction
Māgha is a post Kālidāsen poet, famous for his only work Śiśupālavadha bearing twenty cantos which is related with the king Śiśupāla of Cedi dynasty. The poet flourished probably in the 7th century A.D. He takes the theme of his epic from the Sabhāparvan of the Mahābhārata (33-45 chap.) In the Śiśupālavadha I have observed some technical terms of politics like cara, dūta, mantra, amātya, Vijigīṣu, ṣāḍguṇya, kara, yuddha, vyūha, durga etc.
Besides this I have seen Māgha’s knowledge of the Veda, Vedāṅga, Dharma, philosophy, grammar, Āyurveda, Nāṭyaśāstra, geography, Alaṃkāra, metre etc. through the epic. So, he may be mentioned as Śāstrakavi which word is mentioned by Rājasekhara in his Kāvyamī māṃsā to state the different statuses of the poets.
rasenaiva sarvaṃ jīvati kāvyam |
na hi tacchūnyaṃ kāvyaṃ kiñcidasti || (Dhvanyāloka, 2/3, locanatīkā).
According to locanatīkā of Dhvanyāloka an epic should be full of different sentiments without which it cannot resist among the scholars. In the Śiśupālavadha we observe different sentiments like heroic, erotic etc. by which the epic is of long standing.
His epic has different commentaries like sandehaviṣauṣadhi by Ballabhadeva, suvodhinī by Bharat Mallik, Sandarbha cūḍ āmanī by Chandrasekhar, suvodhinī by Dinakara Mishra, sarvaṃkaṣā by Mallinātha etc. I have used Śiśupālavadha edited by Haridas Siddhantavagisha and Mallinātha’s sarvaṃkaṣā commentary mainly. I have used the Manusaṃhitā edited by Manabendu Bandyopadhaya. I have based mainly on the seventh and eighth chapters of the book. The Arthaśāstra edited by R.P. Kangle and T.G. Shastri are used by me. I have based the following adhikaraṇas of the book. 1.7,1.8, 1.15, 1.16 etc. In this research work an attempt has been made to discuss the different aspects of politics in the Śiśupālavadha. This thesis has six chapters. In the introduction māgha’s talent in different śāstras is discussed. First chapter is concept of Vijigīṣu king. Second chapter is activities of ambassador (dūta) and amātya. Third one discusses six fold policies of a king. Fourth chapter discusses activities of spy. Fifth chapter discusses policies of taxation. Sixth chapter discusses principles of warfare. Conclusion and Bibliography follow these chapters of the work.