2023-09-01 08:50:40 by Padmanābha
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PREFACE
The present publication 'Bhīmaparākrama' is a dramatic
piece belonging to the class of Vyāyoga. Daśarūpaka, the well
known work on dramaturgy, defines it as follows:-
"ख्यातेतिवृत्तो व्यायोगः ख्यातोद्धतनराश्रयः ।
हीनो गर्भविमर्शाभ्यां दीप्ताः स्युर्डिमवद् रसाः ॥
अस्त्रीनिमित्तसङ्ग्रामो जामदग्न्यजये यथा ।
एकाहाचरितैकाङ्को व्यायोगो बहुभिनैरैः ॥"
As the name indicates, this play glorifies the exploit of
Bhīma in vanquishing and slaying Jarāsandha, the king of
Magadha. Yudhiṣṭhira was planning to perform Rājasuya after
killing Jarāsandha. But then he received a message from Jarā-
sandha either to pay him tribute or to leave the kingdom and seek
refuge in Dvārakā. The Pāṇḍāvas accepted the challenge and
promised to meet Jarāsandha. Thereafter, disguised as Snātakas,
Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma and Arjuna set out to Magadha. Jarāsandha wel-
comed them unaware of their identity, but they refused to partake
of his entertainment, as Jarāsandha was preparing for a Puruṣa-
medha, human sacrifice, in which numerous kings were to be
sacrificed. Then arose a dispute between Kṛṣṇa and Jarāsandha
as to the righteousness of such a sacrifice. Nārada who happened
to come there, was made the umpire. Jarāsandha agreed to do the
behest of Kṛṣṇa in case of defeat. Kṛṣṇa gained victory, and
according to the original agreement, Jarāsandha had to meet
Kṛṣṇa and his companions in a duel. In the duel which followed,
Bhīma killed Jarāsandha. Kṛṣṇa thereon celebrated the victory
by releasing the kings who had been imprisoned by Jarāsandha.
The present publication 'Bhīmaparākrama' is a dramatic
piece belonging to the class of Vyāyoga. Daśarūpaka, the well
known work on dramaturgy, defines it as follows:-
"ख्यातेतिवृत्तो व्यायोगः ख्यातोद्धतनराश्रयः ।
हीनो गर्भविमर्शाभ्यां दीप्ताः स्युर्डिमवद् रसाः ॥
अस्त्रीनिमित्तसङ्ग्रामो जामदग्न्यजये यथा ।
एकाहाचरितैकाङ्को व्यायोगो बहुभिनैरैः ॥"
As the name indicates, this play glorifies the exploit of
Bhīma in vanquishing and slaying Jarāsandha, the king of
Magadha. Yudhiṣṭhira was planning to perform Rājasuya after
killing Jarāsandha. But then he received a message from Jarā-
sandha either to pay him tribute or to leave the kingdom and seek
refuge in Dvārakā. The Pāṇḍāvas accepted the challenge and
promised to meet Jarāsandha. Thereafter, disguised as Snātakas,
Kṛṣṇa, Bhīma and Arjuna set out to Magadha. Jarāsandha wel-
comed them unaware of their identity, but they refused to partake
of his entertainment, as Jarāsandha was preparing for a Puruṣa-
medha, human sacrifice, in which numerous kings were to be
sacrificed. Then arose a dispute between Kṛṣṇa and Jarāsandha
as to the righteousness of such a sacrifice. Nārada who happened
to come there, was made the umpire. Jarāsandha agreed to do the
behest of Kṛṣṇa in case of defeat. Kṛṣṇa gained victory, and
according to the original agreement, Jarāsandha had to meet
Kṛṣṇa and his companions in a duel. In the duel which followed,
Bhīma killed Jarāsandha. Kṛṣṇa thereon celebrated the victory
by releasing the kings who had been imprisoned by Jarāsandha.