Indological Studies

Author(s): H C Bhayani
Publisher: Parshva Prakashan

Page 30

3. DOMBIKĀ AND SIDGAKA*
I. The Language and Metre of the Dombikā.
1. Our knowledge about the class of works known as Uparūpakas (also called Geya Rūpakas or Padārthābhinayas) in classical Sanskrit Literature is very meagre, because no actual specimens of this category of works are preserved to us. Besides the information also about them found in various works of Sanskrit poetics is mostly vague and sketchy. Making use of the latter V. Raghavan has given us a critical account of the Uparūpakas' and among the modern treatment of the subject his is the most informative. The aim of the present paper is to supplement Raghavan's account of two of the Uparūpakas, viz. the Dombikā and the Sidgaka2 with some new facts derived from the available data on the subject.
2. In the case of the Dombikā? we are fortunate to have the titles of two actual works along with a few citations from them. The Abhinavabhāratio (= ABH.) white discussing the basis of distinction between the Nștta and the Nāțya mentions occasionally several characteristics of the Dombikā (pp. 170-182), and cites a few passages from two Dombikās named Cūdāmaņi5 and Gunamālā, both of which are lost to us. Hemacandra's Kāyyānuśāsana6 ( = KA.) reproduces a substantial portion of the ABH. passages referring to the Dombikā (pp. 446-449).
The citations from the Dombikäs as found in the ABH. are in a highly garbled and mutilated condition, and consequently
* Paper presented at the Classical Sanskrit section of the XXIV session of the All India Oriental Conference held at Banaras on the 12th, 13th and 14th October, 1968. Published with courtesy to the All India Oriental Conference