Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 68

A CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE SMK
The Purāņas are described as giving instructions through Kathas, Akhyānakas, Kaḍavakas,37 Manikülyas.38 Dṛṣṭantas, and Nidarśanas39 (p. 17). Among the avatāras Vāmana (p. 15), Bhargava (p. 8) and Narasimha (p. 17) are taken as standards of comparison. The story of Urvasi and Pururavas (p. 20), the tale of Hariścandra (p. 13) and the churning of the ocean (p. 13) are referred to by way of comparison.
Authorities in the Field of Arthasăstra
There is a rather interesting reference in the book to some of the well-known ancient authorities on policy. The sentence, corrupt in readings, has been reconstructed thus: 4754 चातिप्रज्ञाप्रकर्षमालोचयतां विपश्चितां गिरि न गरिमाणमारोहति गुरुः, न प्रति ( भासते प्रतिभा) वान् भार्गवो, नोद्ध वमति वर्द्धयत्युद्भवः, अ ( यते) न प्राज्ञगणनां चाणक्यः, न कुशाग्रीयबुद्धितामधिश्रयति धर्मकीर्तिः । (p. 9). Here Guru, Bhargava, Uddhava, Canakya and Dharmakirti are mentioned in the same strain. Caņakya is Kautilya, the celebrated author of the Arthasästra. At one place in the text he is called Kautilya of the wicked intellect: कुटिलमतिकौटिल्यप्रभृतीन् बटूनिवापटून् गणयति । (p. 17) and at another place in the text his policy of administration is beautifully described as: चाणक्यनीतिरिव यो येनोपायेन med á eg (p. 15). He is one among the wise.
Guru is Bṛhaspati, who is referred to by Kautilya as a teacher in the Arthasästra. The Mahabharata, the Kamasutra, the Kamandakiya and many other works quote Bṛhaspati as an authority on policy.40 The next reference is to Bhargava. We may take Bhargava as referring to Uśanas who is a son of Bhrgu. The Arthaśästra quotes the Auśanasas many times. The Mahabharata, Viśvarupa (on Yajnavalkyasmṛti I-307) and other works quote Uśanas's views on polity and it is held that Uśanas had written a work on politics.41 In the Säntiparva we have a nitiśästra ascribed to Bhargava. Kane, giving a list of the authorities quoted by Katyayana in Karmapradipa, mentions one Bhargava who, he thinks, is probably Uśanas.42 Further, in Abdhutasagara of Ballalasena, there are a number of authorities given of which one is Bhargaviya.43 This may be the work of Bhargava or Uśanas. At another place in the present text Uśanas is mentioned as being an authority in Upaniṣads. It is probable that this reference is to Uśanas, the authority of polity. Like the Arthasästra of Kautilya where the 14th book is called Aupanisadikam, and which describes ways and means to obtain desired objects by mystic formulæ and the like, the work of Uśanas might have had a chapter on this subject and this reference might be to it. The reference is after a reference to Kautilya, and the whole
39. See Notes.
43. Ibid, p. 340.
38. See Notes.
37. See Notes. 40. Kane, History of Dharmasastra, Vol. I, p. 123 f. 41. Ibid, p. 110 ff. 42. Ibid, p. 219.
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