Society as depicted in the Chaturbhani (study)

by Mridusmita Bharadwaj | 2022 | 64,215 words

This page relates ‘Carelessness towards duty’ of the study on the Chaturbhani: a collection of four Bhanas which represents a genre of dramatic performance peculiar to the ancient Indian tradition of theater and performing arts (i.e. Natya-Shastra). More specifically, this study examines the historical, literary, cultural, and satirical aspects of ancient Indian society as reflected in these four Sanskrit plays.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

Part 5.4 - Carelessness towards duty

< Previous

Next >

[Full title: Humour and Satire in the Pādatāḍitaka (4) Carelessness towards duty]

The Pādatāḍitaka has the description of administering the judicial system properly, the king assigned prāḍvivāka in the state^[1]. A character named Viṣṇudāsa is engaged as Prāḍvivāka i.e., the chief or judge of a stationary court. Viṣṇudāsa is also a Caukṣa Bhāgavata, the follower of Vaishnavism. Though engaged in the responsible position of a judge, due to his habit of meditation, he cannot seriously discharge the duty assigned to him. By using the word dhyānābhyāsa i.e., meditation, the author satirically means drowsiness.^[2] The author adds that he dozes and even sleeps in the workplace like an ox of the marketplace.^[3]

Śyāmilaka ridicules Viṣṇudāsa’s carelessness towards his duty that he can act like a pious follower of Vaishnavism by holding daṇḍa i.e., stick^[4] and kuṇḍikā i.e., water pot^[5]; but could not follow the responsible duty of a judge. The author spells out that Viṣṇudāsa is neither a genuine follower of Vaishnavism nor he performs his duty sincerely. He only imitates to be a Caukṣa Bhāgavata as the author adjoins his act of being a Bhāgavata as bhāṇḍa i.e. mimicry^[6]. This description reflects one’s carelessness towards duty. Through the story of Viṣṇudāsa, the author tries to expose the contaminated judicial department of the state that existed during the age of the Pādatāḍitaka.