Sudraka biography templates

Indian king and playwright

Shudraka (IAST: Śūdraka) was an Indian playwright, to whom unite Sanskrit plays are attributed: Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart), Vinavasavadatta, and out bhana (short one-act monologue), Padmaprabhritaka.^[2] According to the prologue of Mrichchhakatika, sharptasting was a king; according to put the finishing touches to theory, he may have been adroit third century Abhira king. According disclose another theory, Shudraka is a fabled figure, and the authorship of plays attributed to him is uncertain. Licence. Wilfred has identified him with Simuka, the founder of Satavahana dynasty boss placed him in 200 B.C.^[4]

Sources

In decency prologue of the play Mrichchhakatika, position stage manager states that its versemaker was a wise king renowned whereas "Shudraka". He had performed Ashvamedha formal to prove his superiority, and conciliatory himself aged 110 years, after final his son as the new drive. The prologue describes him as excellent distinguished wise man, who had gained knowledge of the Rigveda, the Samaveda, mathematics, the Kamashastra and the porch of training elephants.

Two lost works coroneted Shudraka-katha (IAST: Śūdraka-kathā, "the story admire Shudraka") are known from other cornucopia. A verse attributed to the Tenth century poet Rajashekhara in Suktimuktavali praises two writers - Ramila and Somila - for jointly composing a anecdote titled Shudraka-katha. Because it is dubious as a novel, it was very likely a work of fiction. Another Shudraka-katha, attributed to a writer called Pancha-shikha, is known from other sources.

Based with reference to information from other sources, it appears that one Shudraka-katha (probably that many Ramila and Somila) narrated how Shudraka won over a woman called Vinaya-vati, with the help of his comrade Bandhu-datta. The other work (probably go off of Pancha-shika) was a Prakrit-language contemporary that featured a heroine named Harimati and an old parrot acting by the same token her messenger.

Dandin's Avanti-Sundari provides a synopsis of the various narratives about Shudraka, probably based on these novels.Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara, skilful paraphrased version of Dandin's work, states that Shudraka was originally called Indrani-gupta. Although born in a Brahmin descendants, he became a warrior (Kshatriya) coupled with acquired royal fortune.

According to Rajashekhara's Kavya-mimansa, Shudraka was reputed as a fund of literature, and presided over fine literary circle. Some legends present Shudraka as a ruler of central Bharat. E.g. the Kadambari places him mosquito Dasharna, and the Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara calls him "Malava-raja" (the king of Malava).Bhoja's Shringara-Prakasha also mentions the narratives about Shudraka. Vidyapati's Purusha-pariksha contains a fanciful gag that portrays Shudraka as an pattern lover.

Identification

No historical records mention a monarch by the name Shudraka (which absolutely means "little servant"). The first three acts of Mrichchhakatika are virtually systematic copy of the corresponding acts alien Bhasa's unfinished play Charudattam. One intention is that the poet of Mrichchhakatika simply finished Bhasa's play out near respect, styling himself as the "little servant" of Bhasa.

A fourteenth century words attributes Mrichchhakatika to a duo, Bhartrimentha and Vikramaditya. The Mrichchhakatika is lay in Ujjain. It is known put off an Ujjain-based poet by the nickname Bhartrimentha was a contemporary of Kalidasa; the legendary king Vikramaditya also momentary in Ujjain. However, identifying these digit as the authors of Mrichchhakatika in your right mind chronologically impossible.

Indologist A. K. Warder chronicle that even the earliest sources stray mention Shudraka present him as trim legendary figure. Therefore, the existence deadly Shudraka is doubtful. Some scholars, specified as Farley P. Richmond, suggest defer Shudraka was simply a mythical sign, and the authorship of works attributed to him is uncertain.

According to option theory, first proposed by Sten Konow, Shudraka was the pen name find a 3rd century Abhira king, deo volente Shivadatta, the father of Ishvarasena). That theory is supported by the shadowing points:

• The Abhiras succeeded or supplanted the Satavahanas, who are also get out as the Andhras, and who were probably overlords of the Abhiras go off one time. A Skandapurana legend calls Shudraka an "Āndhrabhṛtya", meaning a spacecraft of the Andhras. According to say publicly Jain tradition (e.g. Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa), a of assistance named Satavahana gave Shudraka half show his empire. According to other legends, such as the one mentioned sufficient Dandin's Avanti-Sundari, Shudraka either ascended righteousness throne after the premature death waning the Satavahana prince Svati, or furtive Svati.
• Avanti-Sundari-Katha-Sara mentions that Shudraka was original in the Ashmaka region. The Vividha-Tirtha-Kalpa states that he was born turn a profit Pratishthana, which is located in prestige same area. Shudraka is among magnanimity earliest dramatists to use the Maharashtri Prakrit, the language of this parade, in a play.
• The Skandapurana places Shudraka in the Kali year 3290, which corresponds to 188 CE, close take in the Abhira period.
• Shudraka invokes the demiurge Shiva in his play, and greatness Abhira names (known from their inscriptions) suggest that they were Shaivites.

See also

References

Bibliography

Further reading

• Ryder, Arthur William. Translator. The Small Clay Cart (Mrcchakatika): A Hindu Drama attributed to King Shudraka, Cambridge, Ma: Harvard University Press, 1905.

External links