Sambodhi 1984 Vol 13 and 14

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, Ramesh S Betai, Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 132

Rasa and its Pleasurable Nature
127
On the .contrary, it would be only proper to hold that it (soka) produces unhappiness in the spectator as in the case of the hero. Some might argue : "That real sorrow produces unhappiness is an accepted truth. But the sorrow produced by reading a poem portraying Karuna rasa or while witnessing a tragic scene or event, being unreal cannot produce a distressing effect. While the hero of a poem or a play experiences grief, the salırdaya does not." But this argument is not correct. This argument, if accepted, would force us all to accept the position that the rope mistaken for a serpent does not produce fear or trembling. Again, it' would not be reasonable to say that rati (love) etc., which is imaginati.. vely felt by the spectator produces joy in him." In reply to this it is said : What you say is true. But if it be the experience of the sahrdayas) (lit. if it be verified by the heart of the sah,dayus that pure joy alone is produced from poetic or dramatic works replete with Karuna-rasa just like from the poetic or dramatic works in which the erotic sentiment predominates, then it will have to be admitted that extra-ordinary power or better, function of suggestion lokottara-kavyavyāpära) itself is the cause of preventing sorrow or grief just as it is the cause of producing joy. For a cause is inferred from the effect. On the other hand, if sorrow/gricf is proved to effect from a poem or a play depicting karuna-rasa as joy from an erotic poem or play then it is not necessary to infer the cause, viv., the preventing of sorrow or grief and then, both joy and sorrow will follow their own causes respectively." It may be asked : "If a poem full of pathos were to produce sorrow wliy should a poet strive himself to compose such a poem and a sensitive reader, to listen to it ? For it being the cause of an undesirable or unwelcome thing (viz., sorrow) it would be only proper for him to refrain from it." In reply it is said : As there is in a play full of pathos welcome joy in a larger degree and unwelcome unhappiness in a lesser degree a poet's activity of composing and a spectator's activity of witnessing it stands to reason, just like a person's activity of applying sandal paste to one's body.
Now, according to the literary thinkers or critics who maintain that every poetic work yields pure joy, there is absolutely no hindrance to the poet's or reader's or spectator's activity in regard to writing a poem, or listening to it or witnessing a play respectively. Even the flow of (ears or shedding of tears when reading a poein full of pathos is only natural as it takes place while experiencing that pure joy; and this flow of tears does not at all) arise on account of grief. Therefore the flow of shedding of tears from the eyes of the deyotees of (Visnu. Sivao