Vajjalaggam

SR No.: 020873
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: M V Patwardhan
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society
Publication Year: 1969
Total Pages: 706
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

Page 48

INTRODUCTION
xlvli
46.14 for Artha and 45-48 for Kama. We can therefore say that while Artha and Kama are given almost equal importance, Dharma occupies a considerably subordinate position.
A good many of the sections, dealing primarily with Dharma Artha or Kama, also contain stanzas concerned with general Niti (worldly wisdom). Amongst the secrions dealing with Kama, we get a group of seven consecutive sections (50-6) and section 61, most of the stanzas in which are full of obscene thoughts. These eight sections may be called the pornographic core of the entire collection. In the whole of the VL ('ncluding the eight sections mentioned just now ), we get a total of about 75 stanzas which may be said to be directly or suggestively descriptive of the sexual act or its accessories, antecedents, concomitants or consequents, and which may therefore be regarded as obscenc or indecent (). But there is one thing to be noted about these stanzas that the sense connected with sexual matters is in most cases suggested and not directly expressed.' Even in the case of Sanskrit anthologies like the सुभाषितावलि of वल्लभदेव, the सुभाषितरत्नकोश of विद्याकर and the more modern सुभाषितरत्नभाण्डागार, we come across sections dealing with erotic miters such as सुवतिशरीरावयव, विरहिणीअवस्था, विरहिणीप्रलाप, दूतीवचन, अनुनय, जलकेलि, पानकेलि, सुरतक्रीडा, विपरीतरत असती etc. The Vajjalagga seems to have followed the same pattern.
1. In spite of the large number of erotic stanaas in the Gathasaptasati, Bāņa characterises that work as in st. 13 of his introduction to the Harṣacarita. means "not vulgar" Bāņa means to say that the stanzas in the Gāthāsaptasati are not boorish or gross, but are highly refined, the erotic sense being always very delicately conveyed by suggestion. This is true of the VL also. Dandin says in his Kävyādarśa (1.62-64) that an erotic idea if conveyed indirectly by suggestion is saved from vulgarity. Expressing an erotic idea directly is vulgar, but conveying it indirectly by suggestion is a sign of highly refined taste and culture. ( कामं सर्वोऽप्यलङ्कारो रसमथें निषिञ्चति । तथाप्यग्राम्यतैवैनं भारं वहति भूयसा || कन्ये कामयमानं मां न त्वं कामयसे कथम् । इति ग्राम्योऽयमर्थत्मा वैरस्याय प्रकल्पते ॥ कामं कन्दर्पचाण्डालो मयि वामाक्षि निर्दयः । त्वयि निर्मत्सरो दिष्टयेत्यग्राम्योर्थो - रस विहः TI)