Q. Which one of the following is a work attributed to playwright Bhasha?

  • Kavyalankara
  • Natyashastra
  • Madhyama-vyayoga
  • Mahabhashya

Answer: (c) Madhyama-vyayoga

Notes:
  • Kavyalankara is a work on poetics attributed to the scholar Bhamaha.
  • Natyashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, attributed to Bharata Muni.
    • Its many chapters contain detailed treatments of all the diverse arts that are embodied in the classical Indian concept of the drama, including dance, music, poetics, and general aesthetics.
    • It is also known as the fifth veda as it has been evolved by taking words from the Rigveda, music from the Samaveda, gestures from the Yajurveda and emotions from the Atharvaveda.
  • Madhyama-vyayoga play is one of the thirteen plays traditionally attributed to Bhasa. It is a one-act play (vyayoga) that depicts a story from the Mahabharata, focusing on the reunion of the Pandava brothers.
  • Mahabhashya is a commentary on Panini’s grammar, attributed to Patanjali.
Bhasa:
  • Bhasa is one of the earliest known Sanskrit dramatists, often referred to as the “Shakespeare of Sanskrit drama”.
  • His works were rediscovered in 1912 by the Indian scholar Ganapati Shastri, who found 13 plays attributed to him.
  • Bhasa’s plays are known for their rich storytelling, complex characters, and incorporation of mythological and heroic themes from Indian epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
  • Themes and Style:
    • Bhasa’s plays cover a wide range of themes including love, valor, duty, and morality.
    • His characters often embody complex human emotions and dilemmas, making his works timeless and relatable.
    • Bhasa deviated from the accepted dramaturgy of his time by portraying battle scenes and killings on stage, which was unconventional.
  • Influence and Legacy:
    • Bhasa’s influence is evident in the works of later dramatists like Kalidasa and Bhavabhuti, who built upon his literary motifs.
    • His plays continue to be staged and adapted, showcasing their enduring appeal and relevance.
  • Notable Works:
    • Swapnavasavadatta: A tale of love and sacrifice, considered one of his most celebrated works.
    • Madhyama-vyayoga: Focuses on the reunion of Bhima and Ghatotkacha.
    • Karnabharam: Depicts the burden of Karna from the Mahabharata.
    • Urubhanga: Focuses on the broken thigh of Duryodhana from the Mahabharata.
    • “Carudatta” is also known as “Mrcchakatika: ” It paints a detailed picture of urban life in ancient India, incorporating elements of romance, adventure, and social commentary.
Bhamaha:
  • Bhamaha was a Sanskrit poetician believed to be contemporaneous with Daṇḍin.
  • He is noted for writing a work called the Kavyalankara (“The ornaments of poetry”).
  • Bhamaha was apparently from Kashmir.
  • The Kāvyālaṃkāra has, however, been widely recognised as similar to and in many ways in disagreement with the Kāvyādarśa by Daṇḍin.
Patanjali
  • Patanjali also called Gonardiya or Gonikaputra) was the name of one or more author(s), mystic(s) and philosopher(s) in ancient India.
  • His name is recorded as an author and compiler of a number of Sanskrit works. The greatest of these are the Yoga Sutras, a classical yoga text.
  • Estimates based on analysis of this work suggests that its author(s) may have lived between the 2nd century BCE and the 5th century CE.
  • Among the more significant authors who go by the name, Patanjali are:
    • The creator of the Mahabhaṣya, a classic work on Sanskrit linguistics and grammar that was based on Panini’s Aṣṭadhyayi.
    • The author of the Yoga Sutras, a book on the philosophy and practice of yoga, and a renowned expert in Hindu philosophy from the Samkhya school.
    • The creator of Patanjalatantra, a medicinal book.
      • Many mediaeval publications on health sciences acknowledge him and this treatise, and Patanjali is referred to as a medical authority in a number of Sanskrit texts, including Yogaratnakara, Yogaratnasamuccaya, and Padarthavijnana. A fourth Hindu scholar by the name of Patanjali, who most likely lived in the eighth century CE, authored the Carakavarttika, a commentary on the Charaka Samhita. Some contemporary Indian historians, like P.V. Sharma, contend that the two medical scholars who share the name Patanjali may actually be the same person, but they are unrelated to the Patanjali who penned the Mahabhashya grammar masterpiece.
    • One of the 18 siddhars in Tamil Siddha (Shaiva) tradition is Patanjali.