PSYCHOLOGICAL INSIGHTS FROM EPISODES IN BHĀSA'S PRATIMA NĀTAKAM: EXPLORING THE POWER OF SANKALPA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69919/e4yfrv19Keywords:
Sankalpa, bhasa, intention, resolve, psychological insights, pratima natakam, episode analysis, prasangaAbstract
The concept of Sankalpa (resolve or intention) is a central element in Bhāsa's Pratima Nātakam, shaping the narrative structure and the psychological depth of its characters. Sankalpa is a driving force that governs their actions and influences their decisions, leading to the unfolding of the plot throughout the drama. The firmness of Sankalpa not only guides the progression of events but also reveals the internal struggles and external conflicts of the characters, making it a crucial component of the dramatic experience, thereby demonstrating the psychology of characters.
Several established behavioral theories such as Lewin's Equation, the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Transtheoretical Model, and the Fogg Behavior Model offer structured, formula-based frameworks to general human conduct. Classical Sanskrit plays have not been examined through such structured approach, particularly for episodes and interlinkage between them. Addressing this gap, this study examines the role of Sankalpa through key prasanga (episode) from Pratima Nātakam that is Rajyabhisheka (the coronation) which manifests into Vanagamanam (the exile). Through this episode, this research explores the psychological insights of characters based on their roles and their respective Sankalpa towards their duties or wills thereby resulting in outcome in the form of next episode and the mark on the individual character.
This study uncovers significant psychological insights through the coronation episode analysis. The Sankalpas reflect the internal struggles of the characters, their ethical dilemmas, and the tension between personal desires and moral obligations. This interplay between Sankalpa and consequence highlights universal aspects of human behavior and decision-making applicable to everyday life. As the manifestation of the coronation forms the entry point of the exile, the framework establishes a basis for analyzing the remaining episodes of Pratima Nātakam in future work and may further be extended to other classical Sanskrit plays to examine their psychological depth in a structured and objective manner.
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