弓箭与黑羚羊皮:《摩诃婆罗多》中刹帝利与婆罗门两种传统的纠葛

Bow and Arrow vs.the Hide of the Blackbuck:The Ideological Complexes in Mahābhārata.

在印度传统中,弓箭与黑羚羊皮分别是刹帝利和婆罗门两个种姓的象征。然而从《摩诃婆罗多》的文本来看,这两种象征物与两个种姓之间的对应关系,却并非泾渭分明。同时,对于史诗中的不同人物而言,弓箭与黑羚羊皮的象征意义也大异其趣。这其实反映了在《摩诃婆罗多》的流变过程中,刹帝利与婆罗门两种传统在冲突中彼此消长的过程,也体现了史诗形成时期剧烈变化的种姓关系与社会状况,即刹帝利与其他种姓开始挑战婆罗门的权威,而后者则竭力维护自身的地位。

Bow and arrow is a symbol of the Indian caste ksatriya,and the hide of the blackbuck is a symbol of brāhmana.However,the relations between the two symbols and the two castes in Mahābhārata are more complex than that.The hide of the blackbuck has different symbolic meanings for different people in the epic.The evolution of the text shows the conflict and integration between the ksatriya and brāhmanic oral traditions.The ideological complexes that emerged in the process reveal the tension between castes and the social development of the age of Mahābhārata.Ksatriya and other lower castes challenged the privilege of the brāhmana caste,and the former privileged caste sought to maintain their social status.