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Shudraka

September 18, 2023

Shudraka (IAST: Śūdraka) was an Indian playwright, to whom three Sanskrit plays are attributed: Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), Vinavasavadatta, and a bhana (short one-act monologue), Padmaprabhritaka.[1][2] According to the prologue of Mrichchhakatika, he was a king; according to one theory, he may have been a third century Abhira king.[1] According to another theory, Shudraka is a mythical figure, and the authorship of plays attributed to him is uncertain.[3]

Shudraka
Occupationplaywright, poet, king
LanguageSanskrit
Notable worksMrichchhakatika

Sources Edit

In the prologue of the play Mrichchhakatika, the stage manager states that its poet was a wise king renowned as "Shudraka". He had performed Ashvamedha ritual to prove his superiority, and immolated himself aged 110 years, after crowning his son as the new king. The prologue describes him as a distinguished wise man, who had gained knowledge of the Rigveda, the Samaveda, mathematics, the Kamashastra and the art of training elephants.[4]

Two lost works titled Shudraka-katha (IAST: Śūdraka-kathā, "the story of Shudraka") are known from other sources.[5] A verse attributed to the 10th century poet Rajashekhara in Suktimuktavali praises two writers - Ramila and Somila - for jointly composing a novel titled Shudraka-katha.[6] Because it is described as a novel, it was probably a work of fiction. Another Shudraka-katha, attributed to a writer called Pancha-shikha, is known from other sources.[7]

Based on information from other sources, it appears that one Shudraka-katha (probably that of Ramila and Somila) narrated how Shudraka won over a woman called Vinaya-vati, with the help of his friend Bandhu-datta. The other work (probably that of Pancha-shika) was a Prakrit-language novel that featured a heroine named Harimati and an old parrot acting as her messenger.[7]

Dandin's Avanti-Sundari provides a summary of the various narratives about Shudraka, probably based on these novels.[7] Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara, a paraphrased version of Dandin's work, states that Shudraka was originally called Indrani-gupta. Although born in a Brahmin family, he became a warrior (Kshatriya) and acquired royal fortune.[8]

According to Rajashekhara's Kavya-mimansa, Shudraka was reputed as a patron of literature, and presided over a literary circle.[9] Some legends present Shudraka as a ruler of central India. E.g. the Kadambari places him in Dasharna, and the Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara calls him "Malava-raja" (the king of Malava).[8] Bhoja's Shringara-Prakasha also mentions the narratives about Shudraka.[7] Vidyapati's Purusha-pariksha contains a fanciful story that portrays Shudraka as an ideal lover.[10]

Identification Edit

No historical records mention a king by the name Shudraka (which literally means "little servant"). The first four acts of Mrichchhakatika are virtually a copy of the corresponding acts from Bhasa's unfinished play Charudattam. One theory is that the poet of Mrichchhakatika simply finished Bhasa's play out of respect, styling himself as the "little servant" of Bhasa.[3]

A fourteenth century text attributes Mrichchhakatika to a duo, Bhartrimentha and Vikramaditya. The Mrichchhakatika is set in Ujjain. It is known that an Ujjain-based poet by the name Bhartrimentha was a contemporary of Kalidasa; the legendary king Vikramaditya also lived in Ujjain. However, identifying these two as the authors of Mrichchhakatika is chronologically impossible.[11]

Indologist A. K. Warder notes that even the earliest sources that mention Shudraka present him as a legendary figure. Therefore, the existence of Shudraka is doubtful.[9] Some scholars, such as Farley P. Richmond, suggest that Shudraka was simply a mythical figure, and the authorship of works attributed to him is uncertain.[3]

According to another theory, first proposed by Sten Konow, Shudraka was the pen name of a 3rd century Abhira king, possibly Shivadatta, the father of Ishvarasena).[1][8] This theory is supported by the following points:

  • The Abhiras succeeded or supplanted the Satavahanas, who are also known as the Andhras, and who were probably overlords of the Abhiras at one time. A Skandapurana legend calls Shudraka an "Āndhrabhṛtya", meaning a vassal of the Andhras. According to the Jain tradition (e.g. Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa), a king named Satavahana gave Shudraka half of his empire. According to other legends, such as the one mentioned in Dandin's Avanti-Sundari, Shudraka either ascended the throne after the premature death of the Satavahana prince Svati, or defeated Svati.[12]
  • Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara mentions that Shudraka was born in the Ashmaka region. The Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa states that he was born in Pratishthana, which is located in the same area. Shudraka is among the earliest dramatists to use the Maharashtri Prakrit, the language of this area, in a play.[8]
  • The Skandapurana places Shudraka in the Kali year 3290, which corresponds to 188 CE, close to the Abhira period.[8]
  • Shudraka invokes the god Shiva in his play, and the Abhira names (known from their inscriptions) suggest that they were Shaivites.[8]

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b c Biswanath Banerjee 1999, p. 4.
  2. ^ Bhattacharji, Sukumari History of Classical Sanskrit Literature, Sangam Books, London, 1993, ISBN 0-86311-242-0, p.93
  3. ^ a b c Farley P. Richmond 1993, p. 56.
  4. ^ Farley P. Richmond 1993, pp. 55–56.
  5. ^ A. K. Warder 1977, pp. 77–78.
  6. ^ A. K. Warder 1977, p. 77.
  7. ^ a b c d A. K. Warder 1977, p. 78.
  8. ^ a b c d e f A. K. Warder 1977, p. 4.
  9. ^ a b A. K. Warder 1977, p. 5.
  10. ^ A. K. Warder 1977, pp. 4–5.
  11. ^ Farley P. Richmond 1993, p. 57.
  12. ^ A. K. Warder 1977, pp. 3–4.

Bibliography Edit

  • A. K. Warder (1977). Indian Kāvya Literature. Vol. 3: The Early Medieval Period (Śūdraka to Viśākhadatta). Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0615-3.
  • Biswanath Banerjee (1999). Shudraka. Makers of Indian Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Academy. ISBN 81-260-0697-8.
  • Farley P. Richmond (1993). "Characteristics of Sanskrit Theatre and Drama". Indian Theatre: Traditions of Performance. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120809819.

Further reading Edit

  • Ryder, Arthur William. Translator. The Little Clay Cart (Mrcchakatika): A Hindu Drama attributed to King Shudraka, Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press, 1905.

External links Edit

September 18, 2023
shudraka, iast, Śūdraka, indian, playwright, whom, three, sanskrit, plays, attributed, mrichchhakatika, little, clay, cart, vinavasavadatta, bhana, short, monologue, padmaprabhritaka, according, prologue, mrichchhakatika, king, according, theory, have, been, t. Shudraka IAST Sudraka was an Indian playwright to whom three Sanskrit plays are attributed Mrichchhakatika The Little Clay Cart Vinavasavadatta and a bhana short one act monologue Padmaprabhritaka 1 2 According to the prologue of Mrichchhakatika he was a king according to one theory he may have been a third century Abhira king 1 According to another theory Shudraka is a mythical figure and the authorship of plays attributed to him is uncertain 3 ShudrakaOccupationplaywright poet kingLanguageSanskritNotable worksMrichchhakatika Contents 1 Sources 2 Identification 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Bibliography 5 Further reading 6 External linksSources EditIn the prologue of the play Mrichchhakatika the stage manager states that its poet was a wise king renowned as Shudraka He had performed Ashvamedha ritual to prove his superiority and immolated himself aged 110 years after crowning his son as the new king The prologue describes him as a distinguished wise man who had gained knowledge of the Rigveda the Samaveda mathematics the Kamashastra and the art of training elephants 4 Two lost works titled Shudraka katha IAST Sudraka katha the story of Shudraka are known from other sources 5 A verse attributed to the 10th century poet Rajashekhara in Suktimuktavali praises two writers Ramila and Somila for jointly composing a novel titled Shudraka katha 6 Because it is described as a novel it was probably a work of fiction Another Shudraka katha attributed to a writer called Pancha shikha is known from other sources 7 Based on information from other sources it appears that one Shudraka katha probably that of Ramila and Somila narrated how Shudraka won over a woman called Vinaya vati with the help of his friend Bandhu datta The other work probably that of Pancha shika was a Prakrit language novel that featured a heroine named Harimati and an old parrot acting as her messenger 7 Dandin s Avanti Sundari provides a summary of the various narratives about Shudraka probably based on these novels 7 Avanti Sundari Katha Sara a paraphrased version of Dandin s work states that Shudraka was originally called Indrani gupta Although born in a Brahmin family he became a warrior Kshatriya and acquired royal fortune 8 According to Rajashekhara s Kavya mimansa Shudraka was reputed as a patron of literature and presided over a literary circle 9 Some legends present Shudraka as a ruler of central India E g the Kadambari places him in Dasharna and the Avanti Sundari Katha Sara calls him Malava raja the king of Malava 8 Bhoja s Shringara Prakasha also mentions the narratives about Shudraka 7 Vidyapati s Purusha pariksha contains a fanciful story that portrays Shudraka as an ideal lover 10 Identification EditNo historical records mention a king by the name Shudraka which literally means little servant The first four acts of Mrichchhakatika are virtually a copy of the corresponding acts from Bhasa s unfinished play Charudattam One theory is that the poet of Mrichchhakatika simply finished Bhasa s play out of respect styling himself as the little servant of Bhasa 3 A fourteenth century text attributes Mrichchhakatika to a duo Bhartrimentha and Vikramaditya The Mrichchhakatika is set in Ujjain It is known that an Ujjain based poet by the name Bhartrimentha was a contemporary of Kalidasa the legendary king Vikramaditya also lived in Ujjain However identifying these two as the authors of Mrichchhakatika is chronologically impossible 11 Indologist A K Warder notes that even the earliest sources that mention Shudraka present him as a legendary figure Therefore the existence of Shudraka is doubtful 9 Some scholars such as Farley P Richmond suggest that Shudraka was simply a mythical figure and the authorship of works attributed to him is uncertain 3 According to another theory first proposed by Sten Konow Shudraka was the pen name of a 3rd century Abhira king possibly Shivadatta the father of Ishvarasena 1 8 This theory is supported by the following points The Abhiras succeeded or supplanted the Satavahanas who are also known as the Andhras and who were probably overlords of the Abhiras at one time A Skandapurana legend calls Shudraka an Andhrabhṛtya meaning a vassal of the Andhras According to the Jain tradition e g Vividha Tirtha Kalpa a king named Satavahana gave Shudraka half of his empire According to other legends such as the one mentioned in Dandin s Avanti Sundari Shudraka either ascended the throne after the premature death of the Satavahana prince Svati or defeated Svati 12 Avanti Sundari Katha Sara mentions that Shudraka was born in the Ashmaka region The Vividha Tirtha Kalpa states that he was born in Pratishthana which is located in the same area Shudraka is among the earliest dramatists to use the Maharashtri Prakrit the language of this area in a play 8 The Skandapurana places Shudraka in the Kali year 3290 which corresponds to 188 CE close to the Abhira period 8 Shudraka invokes the god Shiva in his play and the Abhira names known from their inscriptions suggest that they were Shaivites 8 See also Edit nbsp Poetry portalSanskrit drama List of Sanskrit plays in English translationReferences Edit a b c Biswanath Banerjee 1999 p 4 Bhattacharji Sukumari History of Classical Sanskrit Literature Sangam Books London 1993 ISBN 0 86311 242 0 p 93 a b c Farley P Richmond 1993 p 56 Farley P Richmond 1993 pp 55 56 A K Warder 1977 pp 77 78 A K Warder 1977 p 77 a b c d A K Warder 1977 p 78 a b c d e f A K Warder 1977 p 4 a b A K Warder 1977 p 5 A K Warder 1977 pp 4 5 Farley P Richmond 1993 p 57 A K Warder 1977 pp 3 4 Bibliography Edit A K Warder 1977 Indian Kavya Literature Vol 3 The Early Medieval Period Sudraka to Visakhadatta Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 978 81 208 0615 3 Biswanath Banerjee 1999 Shudraka Makers of Indian Literature New Delhi Sahitya Academy ISBN 81 260 0697 8 Farley P Richmond 1993 Characteristics of Sanskrit Theatre and Drama Indian Theatre Traditions of Performance Motilal Banarsidass ISBN 9788120809819 Further reading EditRyder Arthur William Translator The Little Clay Cart Mrcchakatika A Hindu Drama attributed to King Shudraka Cambridge Ma Harvard University Press 1905 External links EditWorks by Shudraka at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Shudraka at Internet Archive The Little Clay Cart by Shudraka translated by Arthur W Ryder 1905 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Shudraka amp oldid 1147843854, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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