Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)

by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words

This page relates ‘Synonymous Word(s) in Sanskrit for Satire’ part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.

6. Synonymous Word(s) in Sanskrit for Satire

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In Sanskrit literature, a particular word for the English word ‘satire’ is wanting. Most probably, the reason is that satire as a separate type of literature is mentioned neither in the rhetoric nor in the history of Sanskrit literature. Therefore, exact synonym for English ‘satire’ is not available in Sanskrit literature. Neither Kṣemendra nor any other poet is using a particular word for satire. In the last chapter of the Deśopadeśa, Kṣemendra uses the word upahāsa in the context that he is not much skilled in mockery.^[1] The word is used by him only in the sense of satirizing. In some places of Sanskrit literature also, the word upahāsa is met with in the sense of ridiculing or deriding. For example, in the Raghuvaṃśa (Raghuvaṃśa), the poet Kālidasa expresses that he is not expert as a poet still if he becomes desirous of appreciation, then he will be ridiculed by all.^[2] To get a suitable synonym for the English word ‘satire’, one must depend upon the Sanskrit dictionaries. According to the dictionaries of Sanskrit, both the words upahāsa and parihāsa may be accepted in the sense of a ‘satire’. The word parihāsa is often used in Sanskrit literature. But the word parihāsa is just narma according to the scholars. The word narma is defined as follows-parihāsavaco narma.^[3] In the Śabdakalpadrumaḥ (Śabdakalpadruma), narma is used for the word parihāsa.^[4] The word parihāsa is used in the sense of joking, fun or merriment. The word parihāsa not only occupies a significant place in the aesthetics, but in one’s daily life also. One may make fun by talking anything else. For example, in the drama Abhijñāna Śakuntalaṃ (Abhijñānaśakuntalam), Dusyanta says the following line to Viduṣaka after appreciating Śakuntalā too much and requests him not to give much interest on his admiration of Śakuntalā as it is nothing but fun—parihāsavijalpitaṃ sakhe paramārthena na gṛhyatāṃ vacaḥ.^[5] In the above line, the word parihāsa is used in the sense of fun.

In the English-Sanskrit Dictionary compiled by Sir M Monier Williams, the Sanskrit word upahāsaḥ is used as the synonym for the English word ‘satire’.^[6] V.S Apte in his Sanskrit-English Dictionary mentions that upahāsa means satirical laughter.^[7] Pt. Ram Jasan in his A Sanskrit and English Dictionary, mentions the word upahāsa^[8] in the sense of ridiculing and parihāsa^[9] in the sense of mirth. In Halāyudha’s Abhidhānaratnamālā, the word parihāsa^[10] is used in the sense of merriment and jest and the word upahāsa^[11] in the sense of ridiculing. L.R.Vaidya also mentions that upahāsa^[12] means satirical laughter and parihāsa^[13] means joking or ridiculing. For Śabdakalpadruma, upahāsa means nindārthavākyādiḥ.^[14] In the Vācaspatyam also the word upahāsa is used in the sense of ridiculing.^[15] Arthur A.Macdonell in his Sanskrit-English Dictionary uses the word upahāsa^[16] in the sense of ridiculing or mockery and the word parihāsa^[17] in the sense of joke or jest.

Pt. Ram Jesan gives the derivation of both the words upahāsa and the parihāsa in the following way—

upahāsa: upa and has to laugh, affix ghañ^[18]
parihāsa: pari much, has to laugh, affix ghañ^[19]

It is understood from the two derivations that the verb has with the prefix upa denotes the art of laughing wherein there may be indications of some activities or purpose. On the other hand, parihāsa is used to mean making fun or joking.

From the above discussion, it may be concluded that the Sanskrit word upahāsa is more acceptable as a synonym for the English word ‘satire’ than the word parihāsa.