Mallikamakarandanatakam

Author(s): Ramchandra Mahakavi, Punyavijay
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 34

25
Introduction
The whole world knows that sama (peace or quietitude) is the very essence of great sages (monks). (Don't you however forget the fact that) although gods are born in heaven they move about in all the three worlds, 11
The suggestion is: 'Muni's (sages, monks) too should occasionally leave the high pedestal and come down on earth and should write plays and appreciate them when staged. Just as the gods do not lose their godhead or divine nature simply because they move about in the three worlds even so the 'muni's who write plays and aesthetically appreciate them do not lose their sageness or monkhood.
It is, however, doubtful if this reply silenced Ramacandra's critics. Another striking trait of his personality was his love of freedom (here on earth as well freedom from the cycle of birth and death). He frankly says that he would anyday prefer the free life of a street-dog to the overlordship of the three worlds, that is dependent on another.19 At another place he observes: "If there be life-long freedom useless is heaven and the wealth of this world18 A hurried glance at the epilogues to his plays would immediately bring to our notice his intense desire for freedom from the cycle of birth and death,14
Although Ramacandra had renounced the world he had well retained his aesthetic sense. He had read and mastered thoroughly the plays of the great poets (like Bhāsa, Kālidāsa, Sudraka and Bhavabhuti).15 He had, it seems, good knowledge of the arts of singing, music and dance and he was very well conversant with the ways of the world. 16 His aim in writing the
11 शमस्तस्वं मुनीन्द्राणां जानते तु जगन्त्यपि । जन्मेव दिवि देवानां विहारो भुवनेष्वपि ॥
12 स्वतन्त्र देव भूयासं सारमेयोऽपि वर्त्मनि । मास्म भूवं परायत्तस्त्रिलोकस्यापि नायकः ॥
13 स्वातन्त्र्यं यदि जीवितावधि सुधा स्वर्भूर्भुवो वैभवं Nalavilasa II. 2(C)
14 Read अजातगणनाः समाः परमतः स्वतन्त्रो भव ।
प्राप्य स्वातन्त्र्य लक्ष्मीं मुदमथ वहतां शाश्वत यादवेन्द्रः । प्राप्य स्वातन्त्र्यलक्ष्मीमनुभवतु मुदं शाश्वती भीमसेनः । आसाद्य यशोलक्ष्मीं परां स्वतन्त्राश्चिर भूयाः ।
15 Read महाकविनियद्वानि दृष्ट्वा रूपाणि भूरिशः ।
3
16 Read न गीत वाद्य नृतज्ञ लोकास्थितिविदो न ये ।
स्वयं च कृत्वा स्वोपज्ञ नाटयलक्ष्म] विवृण्वद्दे || Natyadarpana (Introductory v, n. 2)
-Nalavilāsa -Satyahariścandra -Yadavābhyudaya -Nirbhayabhima
-Kaumudi, Mallikāmakaranda
अभिनेतुं च कर्तुं च प्रबन्धांस्ते बहिर्मुखाः ॥Tbid von 3