Setubandha

Author(s): Krishnakant Handiqui
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad

Page 89

ÎNTRODUCTION picture of the nayavadhu in GS 7.47 finds elaboration in Setu 10.76. In 10.72 Pravarasena refers to the mana or sulky wrath of the nayikas, or rather an aspect of it, because it is a many-sided topic that appears frequently in the Kavyas and works on poetics. The gist of the verse is that the nāyikās hastened to greet the nāyakas unreservedly whereupon their maiden friends stared them out of countenance for neglecting their advice to practise māna. The background of all this can be clearly understood by referring to the Gathasaptašati which has a considerable number of verses on the various aspects of mana'. The interrelation of the GS and the Setubandha in the treatment of these topics seems to show the influence of popular poetry on the evolution of the Prakrit Mahakavya, As we have said above, the Sanskrit Mahakāvyas like those of Bhāravi and Māgha follow in this respect the lead of the Setubandha.
VII
Metres
Not much was adequately known about ancient Prakrit metres until the publication of Virahānka's Vịttajatisamuccaya and the Svayambhūcchandas, both edited and elucidated by H.D. Velankar?, and his critical edition of Hemacandra's Chandonušāsana with valuable indices". A metrical analysis of the Setubandha is beyond the scope of this essay. We shall confine ourselves to a few general remarks about the metres used in the poem. The prevailing metre is the Skandhaka consisting of two equal
1 e.g., The sakhi recounts the pleasures of māna denied to a nāyikā who is elated at
the very sight of the nāyaka (5.65); sometimes she administers a mild rebuke to a nāyikā who is unable to practise māna (7.59); a nāyikā declares that the mana induced by her friends disappeared, like a paramour, at the sight of the beloved(2.44).
Mäna is viewed also from otherstandpoints. 2 Revised editions in Rajasthan Purātana Granthamāla, 1962. 3 Singhi Jain Series 1961.