Book Title: Mruccha Katikam
Author(s): Sudraka, Prithvidhara, Hiranand Mulraja Sarma, Kashinath Pandurang Parab
Publisher: Tukaram Javaji
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viii
PREFACE.
mendation or appointment of one of the dramatis-personae as the chief of the Vihâras* or Buddhistic monasteries, speak of a day evidently different from those of other dramas employing the mendicants of this religion as mere pîthamarddakas or pithamarddikâs i. e. panders.t
That this drama was posterior to the Mânavadharmas ́âstra is clear from the fact that the latter is quoted in the body of the book (IX Act. st. 39). Its priority to Varâhamay be inferred from the fact that Angâraka (the fet Mars) is described, in the drama (IX Act. 33) as an enemy of Brihaspati This is contrary to the opinions of modem headed by Varâhamihira§ but in strict conformity with the views of the writers who must be the predecessors of Varâhamihira since he refers to them|| and in his age their views were deemed as antiquated.
The Mricchakatika possesses considerable and unique merits. "The action if it want other unities, has the same unity of interest and proceeds with a regular though diversified march to its final development. The interest is rarely suspended and in every case the apparent interruption is with great ingenuity made subservient to the common design. The deposition of Pâlaka is interwoven with the main story so intimately that it could not be detached from it without injury and yet it never becomes so prominent as to divert attention from that
Merits of the drama.
* See Wilson-Hindu-Theatre Vol. I. p. 15.
Samvâhaka although he unites the heroine with the hero, is not a go-between and stands apart from the parivrâjikâs of Kâlidâsa or Bhavabhûti . g. Kaus'iki or Kâmandaki.
Manu. VIH. 381.
$ See 'जीवेन्दूष्णकराः कुजस्य सुहृद:'; Brihajjátaka II. 16. also 'सूरेस्सौम्यसितावरी रविसुतोमध्योऽपरे त्वन्यथा', ibid II, 17.
|| 'जीवो जीवबुधौ सितेन्दुतनयौ व्यर्का विभौमाः क्रमात् ।
वन्द्वर्का विकुजेन्दवश्च सुहृदः केषांचिदेवं मतं'. ibid II. 15.
