Ubhayabhisarika
Encyclopedia
Ubhayābhisārika is a Sanskrit
single-player satirical play (the genre referred to as 'bhana') formatted as a monologue, written by Vararuchi, who is thought to have lived in the Gupta age . While literal meaning of the title is "Both go to meet" or "the two have a tryst", "abhisārika" usually refers to a courtesan or prostitute.
The only character in the play is Vita, which, loosely translated, means a lecher or a satyr. Vita knows all the courtesans of the city (Kusumapura, a part of Pataliputra or the modern Patna) by their name, ancestry and their partners in sexual congress. Besides the courtesans, a remarkable character is a eunuch who is portrayed as being as seductive as any courtesan.
The play is a good example of the social life of the upper class of medieval India. In particular, it reveals the epicurean lifestyles of the rich and powerful, the considerable sexual freedom enjoyed by courtesans, and the avaricious nature of their mothers who were once courtesans themselves.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
single-player satirical play (the genre referred to as 'bhana') formatted as a monologue, written by Vararuchi, who is thought to have lived in the Gupta age . While literal meaning of the title is "Both go to meet" or "the two have a tryst", "abhisārika" usually refers to a courtesan or prostitute.
The only character in the play is Vita, which, loosely translated, means a lecher or a satyr. Vita knows all the courtesans of the city (Kusumapura, a part of Pataliputra or the modern Patna) by their name, ancestry and their partners in sexual congress. Besides the courtesans, a remarkable character is a eunuch who is portrayed as being as seductive as any courtesan.
The play is a good example of the social life of the upper class of medieval India. In particular, it reveals the epicurean lifestyles of the rich and powerful, the considerable sexual freedom enjoyed by courtesans, and the avaricious nature of their mothers who were once courtesans themselves.