CC - I : Critically Comment on any of the subplots of Mrichhakatikam

 

"Mrichhakatikam" has multiple subplots, but like a master Craftsman Sudraka weaves them seamlessly with the main plot of the play which deals with fate of Charudutta, a rich trader of Ujjain who has fallen to bad times and his admirer and paramour, the beautiful Vasantasena-One of the leading courtesans of the city. One of the chief subplots is the political unrest and the conspiracy for coup that underpins the main plot, that has to do with the support of the peasant Aryaka and his final coup in dethroning king of Ujjain. Palaka the reigning king of Ujjain. Palaka in the play comes across as a powerful but tyrannical king, in whose sway not only has the peace and security of Ujjain deteriorated, moreover his kinsman openly exploit their status by bringing down misrule and tyranny on common citizens, as the character of Sansthanaka clearly betrays. At the same time, he comes across as one who is constantly terrified of opposition and oppressor of the peasants, which accounts for the background of peasant rebellion in the state led by Aryaka which is only tangentially referred to in the plot.

                  However, Aryaka has his share of supporters who back him even in the time of misfortune and arrange for his escape from captivity. It is at the moment of escape that we come across Aryaka in the play. He is on his way to escape from the city to the rural areas from where he will conduct his rebellion and coup, regathering his forces around him. An alarm has already gone around, and thorough checking of all carts leaving the city is being done to apprehend and accost the rebel. However, Aryaka has more sympathizers than the king thinks, even within the administrative rank, and he escapes mostly due to the incident of exchanged carts with Vasantasena, What follows in the play is the attempted murder of Vasantasena, her recovery by the Buddhist monk Sarvalika and the accusation of Charudatta leading to a royal order for execution, fulfilling the revenge motif of Sansthanaka. However, the master playwright Sudraka revives the string of this narrative at the final moment, when Aryaka returns with his supporters, dethrones the king and assumes power and relieves Charudatta his friend and benefactor from all accusations brought against him. Sansthanaka is apprehended and sentenced but is finally  banished but not killed largely due to insistence of the righteous and law fearing Charudutta.

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