Literature

The place of Kathā-sarit-sāgara in literature

The current series of articles attempts to examine the merits and difficulties in bringing Caturvidhābhinaya in classical literature. The epic poems, i.e., the mahākāvyas of Kālidāsa have stood the test of time and are known for their rich content, magnificent plots, impactful modes of expression and profound spirit. The Kumārasambhava, though smaller among the two mahākāvyas of Kālidāsa, gives aesthetic delight in a concentrated form in a shorter span.

If milk needs to get fermented into curd, both the milk and the curd should be of the right quality and quantity. Neither should cause imbalance – there will be no curd either if the milk is boiled too much or if the fermenting curd is sour – it is the same with a family – for it to function well, both the parties should gel well with each other – one person’s loss of wisdom is sufficient for the equilibrium to be disturbed[1]. One party becoming crooked will sink the family.

Some people, even as they utter words as hurting as the kick of a donkey, say thus with knit faces: ‘I don’t retain any filth within; I don’t say one thing and mean another; I lay forth everything that’s inside, out in the open’. Saying so, they pat themselves in the back over their transparent and straightforward ways. This is not an admirable trait; for, after all, what issues out clearly shows what lay within, isn’t it? If one’s speech can hurt others, keeping it to oneself is the right thing to do; silence is golden.

“Lincoln who was the elected leader of America (1870) suffered because of the harsh words his wife spoke every minute, each day – it was as good as him dying. Her words churned his insides, but yet, he held on to his life. Lincoln’s wife troubled him just as one would torture one’s enemy. He tolerated it all, without speaking a word. Yet, we can say that she was a bit kinder than Tolstoy’s wife, who mercilessly humiliated her husband publicly – and quite often did so.

For people who have read ancient works like Mahābhārata it is quite evident that this book is all about worldly affairs; The independence, carefree attitude, villainy, wickedness, gambling, adultery, heroism etc. Since it happens in life so it is in literature, but the problem here is the problem of the Koṇas. Koṇa not only refers to the dirty, slow moving, quadrupedal animal specialty (i.e. Male buffalo); it also refers to a dim-witted, coarse mannered biped too.

ಹೀಗೆ ಆನಂದವರ್ಧನನ ಮತ್ತು ಅವನ ಕೃತಿಯ ಮೌಲಿಕತೆಯನ್ನು ಮನಗಂಡ ಬಳಿಕ ಧ್ವನ್ಯಾಲೋಕವು ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುವ ಕೆಲವು ಅಮೂಲ್ಯಸಂಗತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಬಹುದು.[1] ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಧ್ವನ್ಯಾಲೋಕವನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಪುಲವಾದ ಕೃಷಿ ನಡೆದಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಆ ಗ್ರಂಥದ ಮುಖ್ಯಪ್ರಮೇಯಗಳನ್ನಷ್ಟೇ ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರೂಪಿಸುವುದಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇದಾದರೂ ನನಗೆ ಕಂಡುಬಂದ ಸ್ವಾರಸ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದೆಡೆ ಕ್ರೋಡೀಕರಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವಷ್ಟೇ.