Transformations in the Bhagavadajjukam DECEMBER 21, 2011 BY GURU Print Friendly Both the Sūtradhāra of the prastāvana and the Parivrājaka of the play proper indulge in practical demonstrations to teach their disciples – the Vidūshaka and Śāndilya, respectively, so much so that the Vidūshaka intuitively learns what the Prahasana is like and Śāndilya happens to see the power of Yōga. In order to do this the Sūtradhāra has to go through two levels of transformation. At the first level, he transforms himself into the Parivrājaka, whereas at the second level the Parivrājaka transforms himself into the courtesan. And just as the Sūtradhāra says (suggestively though) that he would transform himself into the Parivrājaka, so does the Parivrājaka say that he would transform himself into the Courtesan (“I’ll inject myself into this courtesan’s body” 183). When the Parivrājaka announces his decision to transform himself into the courtesan, he becomes, for the time being, the Sūtradhāra, once again, because he has to direct himself with regard to the theatrical requirements of transformation. When, however, the messenger of Yama decides to put the soul of the courtesan into the soul of the courtesan into the body of the Parivrājaka, he also assumes the role of the Sūtradhāra, by directing himself in the following words: “Yes, I see a way. I’ll put the soul of the courtesan into the body of the Sannyāsin, and when the fun is over, I’ll exchange their souls properly” (217). The farcical comedy that ensues in the form of the strange behaviour of the Sannyāsin (that is, the courtesan’s soul in the body of the Parivrājaka) leads to a point at which “Hāsya-Pramāna” (229) – that is, the limits of Hāsya Rasa – is achieved by the Sūtradhāra and the Vidūshaka is made to declare, “Now I know the limits of the Hāsya- Rasa. This is neither Bhagavān nor Ajjuka. Better call it Bhagavadajjukam” (229). That the Messenger of Yama plays the role of the Doctor is evident from the parallel that we see between Yama’s shouting at him for the mistake he makes by carrying the soul of the wrong person (“oh, Yama shouted at me: ‘This Vasantasēnā is not the one” 217, which implies that the Messenger of Yama does not know when exactly people die)
Transformations in the BhagavadajjukamDECEMBER 21, 2011 BY
GR!rint "riend#$Both the %&tradh'ra of the (rast'vana and the
!arivr'jaka of the (#a$ (ro(er indu#ge in (ra)ti)a# demonstrations
to tea)h their dis)i(#es * the +id&shaka and ,'ndi#$a,
res(e)tive#$, so mu)h so that the +id&shaka intuitive#$ #earns
-hat the !rahasana is #ike and ,'ndi#$a ha((ens to see the (o-er of
Y.ga/ 0n order to do this the %&tradh'ra has to go through t-o
#eve#s of transformation/ 1t the 2rst #eve#, he transforms himse#f
into the !arivr'jaka, -hereas at the se)ond #eve# the !arivr'jaka
transforms himse#f into the )ourtesan/ 1nd just as the
%&tradh'ra sa$s 3suggestive#$ though4 that he -ou#d transform
himse#f into the !arivr'jaka, so does the !arivr'jaka sa$ that he
-ou#d transform himse#f into the Courtesan 3506## inje)t m$se#f
into this )ourtesan6s 7od$8 19:4/ ;hen the !arivr'jaka announ)es
his de)ision to transform himse#f into the )ourtesan, he 7e)omes,
for the time 7eing, the %&tradh'ra, on)e again, 7e)ause he has
to dire)t himse#f -ith regard to the theatri)a# rea)t#$ (eo(#e die4
and the Courtesan6s shouting at the Do)tor for the mistake he makes
350diot Do)torF You6ve gro-n o#d in vainF You have no idea ho-
)reatures die/ Te## us -hat kind of snake ki##ed her8 2G0/4/ ;e
ma$, then, safe#$ sa$ that just as the +id&shaka transforms
himse#f into ,'ndi#$a, the Messenger of Yama 3the universa#
+id&shaka4 transforms himse#f into the Do)tor/Transformations1/
%&tradh'ra * !arivr'jaka * %&tradha * Courtesan
*!arivr'jaka * %&tradh'ra2/ +id&shaka * ,'ndi#$a *
+id&shaka:/ Courtesan * !arivr'jaka * CourtesanG/ Messenger of
Yama * Do)tor * Messenger of Yama * %&tradh'ra * %(e)tator *
Do)tor * Messeger of Yama * %&tradh'ra * Messenger of Yama
