Bharatavakya and the Bhagavadajjukam
By D. R. Mankad
Summary
The author of this article investigates the dramaturgical term bharatavākya, the traditional benedictory verse recited at the end of a Sanskrit play. He focuses on the farcical drama "Bhagavadajjukam," whose ending deviates from convention by concluding with a comic dialogue rather than a formal benediction. The article reviews prescriptions in the Nāṭyaśāstra and other dramaturgical texts regarding the bharatavākya and surveys several plays to illustrate variations in concluding verses. A subsequent note adds further examples and clarifies textual variants. The author argues that "Bhagavadajjukam" deliberately subverts dramatic norms to parody scholasticism and ascetic pretensions. By highlighting this creative adaptation, the article illuminates the flexibility of Sanskrit dramaturgy and the capacity of playwrights to play with canonical structures for humorous effect.
Conclusion
Through its examination of bharatavākya conventions, the article reveals that Sanskrit drama was not rigidly formulaic. Even established endings could be modified to serve satirical purposes, demonstrating the genre’s dynamism and the ingenuity of its authors.