Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA
Ch. II
Description of things :
There are two classes of description of things, viz. scientific and imaginative, the first depends on the statement of facts to create human pleasure, while the aim of the other is to generate atmosphere in every physical object which is made the starting point of an idea with a springy rhythm. The following examples will throw some light upon the descriptive style on things used by the author of the Bhs. In presenting
graphic account of the bed-chamber of queen Prabhāvati of Hastinapural it is depicted thus, that it was decorated with pictures from inside and having been whitened, rubbed, and smoothened from outside, variegated upper part (roof) and intensely shining lower part (floor), (having) darkness dispelled by jewels and pearls (studded there) and many equally divided parts. It was furnished with the presents of flowers, having five colours, juice, fragrance, and it was made beautiful by the production of fragrant smell of black agaru, best perfume, olibannum and incense endowed with pleasant odour and elegant smell.
In this passage the author has created an atmosphere by this way of description of things and produced an effect by bringing inanimate (or non-living) things to life and by presen. ting the objects to the readers with a rhythm.
Similarly a description of the vision of a lion in dream beheld by this queen Prabhāvati is made in a very colourful style thus : She woke up from her sleep, having beheld the vision of a lion, having a beautiful and worth seeing breast, very white like a silver necklace, milk ocean, moonlight and particles of water and silver mountain, having firm charming fore-arms and round thick well-set excellent sharp teeth, smiling mouth like an adorned best lotus, delicate, measured splendid charming lips like the leaf of a red lotus and soft, and very tender palate tongue, having eyes like the heated best gold existing in a pot (for making liquid), rolling like the wheel to the right, round and pure like the lightning, (having) large thick
i Bhs, 11, 11, 428.