ShodhPatra: International Journal of Science and Humanities

An Analysis of the Play ‘Vikrantakaurava’ in the Light of Indian Knowledge System

The Sanskrit play Vikrāntakaurava, composed by the Jain poet Hastimalla, is an epic-style drama centered on the svayaṁvara (self-choice ceremony) of Princess Sulochanā of Vārāṇasī and Prince Jayakumāra of Hastināpura. This six-act play combines the aesthetic flavors of śṛṅgāra (romance) and vīra (heroism). It reflects the principles of Jain ethics, non-violence (ahiṁsā), anekāntavāda (doctrine of manifold viewpoints), and various perspectives of Indian epistemology. This research paper analyzes the philosophical foundation, characters, and dialogues of the play through the lens of Indian epistemological traditions.