5.7. Bibhatsa-rasa or the Disgustful sentiment

The effect of the Loathsome generated when the poet arouses our sense of aversion (jugupsa) as he draws a lengthy and fully detailed word-picture of the towering terrific form of the Vetala. The poet has fully employed most of its fundamental and excitant determinants and evanescent feelings in the process of delineation. Though the whole description is a masterpiece probably unrivalled in some of its the whole of Sanskrit literature, a/fow pieces are noteworthy as specimens of Dhanapala's skill of depicting the sentiment: The shanks of the Vetala are pictured in the following words $53 451. Tilakamanjari,p.353(23ff.). 452. ibid., pp.46-49. 453. ibid.,p.46(21ff.).

* 809 anusaralasiradandanicitena niscetumucchrayamurdhvalokasya samgrhitaneka- rajjunaivopalabhyamanena gaganasimollamghana jamgha dvitayena nirantararudhavitata- vratatijalayamalatala sikhara nisannamiva drsyamanama The depth of his belly-pit and the ugliness of his chest are brought out in the following phrases 454 malapravahapatalaya vaitaranisaritsalila venikyaiva prthuladirghaya simanti- takaralakuािkuharam 'patalam, ardrapakapatalasyamamatikrsataya kayasya duradarsito - nnatinam parsukanamantaraladronisu nidrayamana sisusarisrpam si igatimarga- nirgataviralavinakandalam sajadivagha pautramurah pradesam darsayantama, 1 The picture becomes terribly realistic when the poet describes in the following words how the Vetala was holding a living Vetala-worshipper by his neck in his left arm-pit, was cutting pieces out of his body with scissors in his right hand, and was devouring his flesh with his sharp teeth and enjoyong it with his grinding jaws 455 daksinena ca pratiksana vyaparitanisitaka vikena vamakantara- siptakandharasya drdhanie dhvanihsvasanirgamatvadadhvarapasauriva tata- datimkarunamantah krandato dacanih phalakrpanaghatasya vaitalasadhakasya sadhita- murdhvamutsarpata parivarasivisavadana visapakakaina gatrapisitamutkrtya tkrtya ki kasi padamsamasnantam kavalitapisitaca yasaca calena kapilatasamvibhaga- danaya tribhuvanodaracarininamaciracinamarabdhasamjnasama vanenaiva 454. Tilakamanjari,§.47(3£f.) / 455. ibid.,p.47(13ff.).

810 poyanalavacasa kucakacakalapaina kavacitamakhilara romara npranirgaladrudhiragandusamiva pralambaprthulam civukamudvahantama | 456 The creeping snakes worn as ear-rings and the wagging tongue of the Vetala are picturesquely exhibited thus : sikhikanarunaya tiryagvasarpinya phanamanikirana malaya jatali krtasara labhoganala myamalaghuna nispatantamoghena ghonaputasvasamuma- yatah patumavatinabhyam karnabharanavisadharabhyam dapyah krtostha- prsthalo malekha muhurudancata muhurtyancata muhuh prancata tiryagajagara dehadirgha- prthulena jihvalatagrena lalatacibukasukkaprantagatamadranimamga ragamaidah karddama- masvadayantam, 1 The frightful nature of this loathsome description is 457 summed up in the following few masterly touches : asthinupurairapi padaprayoga mukhara bhayaprastutastutibhiriva satata sevitamcaranama, abharanabhujagairapi jvaladunmayukhaphanamanibhiratapradipari vavagahyamana- kajjalakalakayaprabhandhatamasam masenapi svadanami tenaiva samrana pari- tyaktasarvaviyavama,, avayavanapyasthisaniti vikrtarupadarsana bhayatpalayitukama - niva snayugranthigadha़nadhvandadhanam, ajanulambamanasavasiromalamaika vetalamita The Disgustful sentiment is also touched in passing ■ to enhance the heroic sentiment in the course of the description of the night-attack of Samaraketu and the consequent clash of rival forces. The poet gives the relevant touches thus : 456. Tilakamanjari,p.48(2ff.) 458. ibid., p.87(2ff.). 457. ibid.,p.48(20ff.). 459. ibid.,p.88(4ff.).

811 parasparavaghanibadhdakapayosca tayostatvanamakulitasakalaji valoko yugapadeki bhutodaravarira siranajala visara va dhanapadatighoro mudita- yogini mrgyamanalokapalakapalacanakah 100000 nipitanara vasa visvara- 458 visarisivarphatkaradamarah (samarasamghattah ) --1- prabhutapisita- bhyavaharajanitativrodanyena karddamaprayamapiyata potajaegambu karanapaganena 459 Thus, Dhanapala seems to have taken great care in presenting the picture and in intensifying the Terrible sentiment as it afforded him full opportunity to show in one place his workmanship in many ways.