Thaidesavilasam-A bird's-eye-view

THAIDESAVILASAM -- A bird’s – eye view.

DR.Chilakamarthi. Durga Prasada Rao,

3/106, Premnagar, Dayalbagh, AGRA—282005.U.P.

Mobile :-09897959425 . dr.cdprao@gmail.com

PROF. SATYAVRAT SASTRY, a multi faceted scholar and also the recipient of Jnanapitha award is a bright star among the galaxy of modern Sanskrit poets. He is the son of a great scholar, Shri Charu Deva Shastri. Prof:-Satyavrata Sastry, his father’s son that he is, is not only a poet but also a great scholar in many Shastras. The statement of Bilhana, नैव व्याकरणज्ञमेति पितरम् [Naiva vyakaranajnameti pitaram] which means that kavitakanya does not choose a grammarian treating him as father is an exception in the case of Satyavrata Sastry. He has written three Mahakavyas, three Khandakavyas, one Prabandhakavya and one Patrakavya and five works in critical writing in Sanskrit. His most important works are Ramakirtimahakavyam, Brihattaram Bharatam, Sribodhisattvacharitam, Vaidika Vyakarana, Sarmanyadesah Sutaram Vibhati, and "Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures" in seven volumes.

Thaidesavilasam, a khanda kavya is one of the great works of the author. As the name implies, it is a poetic description of Thailand. This work covers the main patriotic themes of the Thai people: the nation and its culture, the religion and the king. This kavya consists of 121 slokas of different meters. The poet starts the work directly indicating the geographical location of the country.

अस्त्येसिया नामनि सुप्रसिद्धे

द्वीपे वसाले ति विशालकीर्ति:

आग्नेय दिग्मण्डलमौळि भूतो

दॆशोति रम्यो भुवि थायिलाण्ड:

[“Astyesia namani suprasiddhe

Dvipe vasaletivisalakirthih

Agneyadingmandalamaulibhuto

Desotiramyo bhuvi Thayilandah”]1

There is a highly charming country of great fame, Thailand, the foremost among the countries of the South – East, in the well –known vast continent of Asia on the earth.

This sloka reminds us the first sloka of Kumarasambhava of Kalidasa.

Here, in this work, the poet depicts the physical beauty of the country by giving an elaborate description of the cities like Bankok, rivers like Chao Phaya, fertile lands, temples, Chaityas, lakes, markets, parks, crocodile ponds, snake parks, rose- gardens, villages, elephants, women, royal palaces and the world famous Pattaya beach.

He also describes the religious fervor of the people by mentioning the activities in temples and Chaityas. The poet also brings out the patriotic feelings of the people by describing the sacrifices made by the kings to make the country prosperous and services rendered by spreading education for the progress of the nation and also the regard of Thai people towards their kings.

Though the people of Thailand appear to be western by their dress and costumes, they have unflinching faith and devotion towards their native religion and culture. They have distinctive features, both old and new. While supporting their view, the poet says.

.

पुराणमित्यॆव न साधु सर्वं

न चानवद्यं सकलं नवं च

इत्याशयेनैष गुणं कदाचित्

प्रत्नं च नूत्नं च ददाति दॆश:

“ Puranamityeva na sadhu sarvam

Na chanavadyam sakalam navam cha

Ityashayenaisha gunam kadachit

pratnam cha nutnam cha dadhati deshah”

The poet describes Bankok, the capital city of the country, as a very white garland round the neck of the earth. He also describes this ‘Rajadhani’ as ‘Aiswaryasaundarya vilasadhani’.

दॆशस्य तस्यास्ति भृशं विशाला

कण्ठॆ भुव: शुभ्रतरॆव माला

ऐश्वर्यसौन्दर्य विलासधानी

'बैंकाक' नाम्नी खलु राजधानी

“ Deshasya tasyasti bhrusham vishala

Kanthe bhuvah shubhratareva mala

Aishvaryasaundaryavilasadhani

Bainkakanamni khalu rajadhani” [13]

The city is situated along with the river Chao-Phaya charming with its profuse waters. It appears to the viewers as if the river is washing the feet of the city by wave like hands with utmost devotion.

{Chayo-phayakhyam samaya nivistha

srotasvinim puh salilaughahridyam

Tarangahastaistarasa dadati

ya padyamasyai parayeva bhaktya}

The author while describing the jewelry shops, filled with various kinds of gems, says that the shops in Thailand give the exquisite feeling that the oceans are now left with water only. It means that all the gems in the oceans are extracted and accumulated there.

यदापणेषु प्रसृतानि नाना

रत्नानि चित्रद्युतिरूषितानि

रत्नाकरा: सम्प्रति तोयशॆषा:

इति प्रतीतिं जनयन्ति भव्याम्

{ “Yadapaneshu prasrutani nana

Ratnani chitradyuti rushitani

Ratnakarah samprati toyaseshah

Iti pratitim janayanti bhavyam”} [14]

Similarly the lots of ornaments of high – quality of gold in the shops make people think that the Meru is the gold mountain in name only.

विभूषणानां निचयांश्च रम्यान्

दृष्ट्वा सुवर्णस्य यदापणॆषु

लोको विमुग्धो मनुतॆ कदाचित्

स्वर्णाचलो नामत एव मेरु:

{“Vibhushananam nichayamscha ramyan

Dristva suvarnasya yadapaneshu

Loko vimugdho manute kadachit

Svarnachalo namata eva meruh” . }[15]

There are a number of lakes in Thailand where crocodiles are reared. Here, the poet, while describing them says that they are the makaralayas [the abodes of crocodiles] in reality. But they cannot be called as such because the name Makaralaya is confined to oceans alone.

Coming to the religious aspect, the poet vividly sketches the religious fervor of the people of Thailand. The people of Thailand are deeply religious. They pray to Lord Buddha. Thousands of monks study the Sastras and recite the teachings of Lord Buddha while the followers are listening to them attentively. The wealthy people make use of their riches by meeting the requirements of the monks and their followers.

सहस्रश: सम्प्रति भिक्षवो Sत्र

शास्त्राणि सम्तक्परिशीलयन्ति

आवश्यकं वस्तु जनास्तदर्थं

स्वयं ददाति स्वहिताप्तिकाम:

{ “ Sahasrasah samprati bhikshvotra

Sastrani samyakparishilayanti

Avashyakam vastu janastadartham

Svayam dadati svahitapti kamah”}

(७)

Similarly, the temple of the Emerald Buddha speaks of their devotion and love to Lord Buddha. The description of the statue makes us to feel the presence of Lord Buddha before our eyes.

शान्ताकृते: शाक्यमुनेरपूर्वं

मूर्तिं शुभां मारकतीं दधाना

भक्तैर्भृत: सन्ततमेव सद्भि:

विराजतॆ यत्र विहारभूमि:

{“Santakriteh Sakyamunerapurvam

Murtim subham marakatim dadhana

Bhaktairbhrita santatameva sadbhih

Virajate yatra viharabhumih”}

It is also very interesting to know that the four headed God Brahma has temples and he is worshipped daily with utmost devotion. People are fond of listening to the stories of Rama and many episodes of Ramayana are enacted through out the country. All the episodes of the Ramayana are engraved in the temples. Many people are also having the beautiful names like Rama, Sita, Sudaruka, Sobha, Shanti and so on. Both Hinduism and Buddhism co – exist harmoniously there.

Most of the rulers of Thailand are poets, brave, promoters of education, kind and well wishers of the people. The relation between the king and the people is cordial. They, no doubt, look upon their king as a great deity in the human form.

थायिदेश प्रजानाथं मन्वते स्वमसंशयं

महतीं देवतां लोके नररूपेण संस्थितम्

{“Thayi deshyah prajanatham

manvate svamasamsayam

mahatim devatam loke

nararupena samsthitam’’} [60]

The poet gives the entire picture of Thailand in a nut-shell by saying that Religion, Nation, King and culture: these four are the symbols of Thailand.

धर्मो राष्ट्रं च राजा च

चतुर्थी संस्कृतिस्तथा

एतच्चतुष्टयं प्राहु:

थायिदॆशस्य लक्षणम्

{ “Dharmo rashtram cha raja cha

Chaturthi samsktithistatha

Etacchatustayam prahuh

Thayi deshasya lakshanam’’} [61].

In this kavya, the poet describes the history of old and new rulers of the country, their sacrifices, services and administrative capabilities at length.

Like Kalidasa, the poet says that he composed this kavya out of inner urge and those who are capable of distinguishing good and bad are eligible to judge his work. It is in fire indeed that gold is known to be pure or otherwise.

तत्सन्तो द्रष्टुमर्हन्ति

सदसद्व्यक्तिहेतव:

हेम्न: संलक्ष्यते ह्यग्नौ

विशुद्धि: श्यामिकापि वा

{“Tatsanto drastumarhanti sadasadvyaktihetavah

Hemnassamlakshyate hyagnau vishuddhi shyamikapi va”}116.

Really this kavya gives a comprehensive picture of Thailand. At the end of the kavya the poet says that he would consider his labours repaid if the friendship between Thailand and India were to grow a bit. There is no doubt that one who goes through this kavya will get aspiration to visit the country and this grantha will help as guide when one goes there. This work will find a permanent place in the annals of Sanskrit literature. This kavya was translated in to English and Thai languages.

*Jayanti te sukritino rasasiddhah kaviswarah*