DRAUPADῑ IN BHĀRAVI’S KIRĀTĀRJUNῑYAM: AN INTROSPECTION

Abstract

The Kirātārjunīyam of Bhāravi is one of the great works reckoned under Pañcamahākāvya and also under Bṛhattrayī in Sanskrit literature. The storyline of the Kirātārjunīyam has been taken from Mahābhārata by Vyāsa. Draupadῑ, one of the courageous characters from the Mahābhārata, is portrayed as the protagonist of the Mahākāvya. Bhāravi has redrawn the storyline of Kirātārjunīyam in his own style although he keeps the Mahābhārata as the base reference. Through this paper an attempt has been made to reflect upon the manner in which Bhāravi has portrayed the character of Draupadῑ in Kirātārjunīyam. In addition to that, an analysis is also done to show how the original character of the Mahābhārata are recreated by Bhāravi, one of the renowned Sanskrit litterateur of post- Mahābhārata times.

Keywords: Kirātārjunīyam, Bhāravi, Mahābhārata, Draupadῑ, protagonist, recreation