Sanskrit Prakrit Jain Vyakaran aur Kosh ki Parampara

Author(s): Chandanmalmuni, Nathmalmuni, Others
Publisher: Kalugani Janma Shatabdi Samaroha Samiti Chapar

Page 564

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of the verse as standing for the four ages but used figuratively in that context
Stray references to Kșta, Tretā, Dvāpara and Kalı as denoting the ages are met with in the upanısads In the Ramāyana these words seem to have settled down as the names of the four consecutive ages But here we do not come across any deliberations regarding their nature and extent
In the study of the semantics of these words the Mahābhārata is of immense importance Here we find the words used to denote different throws in the game of dice At the same time they have also been used to denote the consecutive ages with elaborations upon their nature and extent. In between these two denotations there are also abundant evidences of their figurative uses which form a sort of bridge between the two denotations and indicate the process of transition
In Udyoga Parva Krishana intending to cow down karna and avert the war describes to him the seats and fury, the Pandavas would exhibit, in the ensuing war This description runs through ten verses and each pair is concluded with the refrain 'Na tadā bhavitā Tretāna kstam Drāpai am na ca "Obviously the words kría, Tretā and Drāpara, here are figuratively used in the sense of winning scores in the game of dice Krishna makes an oblique reference to the game in which Duryodhana and his friends including Karnū, had got an easy victory securing frequently Ksia, Tretā and Dräpara In the battle field it was not going to be like that where they would not secure Kyta etc as they had donc in the game of dice On the contrary here they would face the wrath of the brave Pändaras which would utterly rout and ruin them The allusion here to the game of dice is quite apt and pointed of such oblique hints to the game, there is no dearth in thc cpic in the Virāļa Parva (50-24) Aśvatihamā warns Juryodhana
Moksánkypari gândiam na kstam Drāparam na cal Jsalaro n11f1lünbanámstiksnānksipatı gündivam//