Sunday, 5 June 2022

MAHAKAVYAS (MAJOR COURT EPICS) IN SANSKRIT PART II

 


‘Bai+: (Bhatti):

Batti is the author of ‘ravaNavaQakavyama\’ (Ravanavadha Kavyam). It is also called ‘Bai+kavyama\’. He belongs to the 7th C.A.D. This work contains 22 cantos dealing with the story of Rama. It is more a manual of grammar and rhetorics in illustration than a poem with an artistic aim. The distinct purpose of the author is only to illustrate the rules of grammar and the rhetorics. Since this poem helps the students to acquire a sound knowledge in grammar it has always been studied as an advanced text book in Kavyam. Some scholars have identified this Bhatti with VatsaBhatti, the author as an inscription. But the very fact that Bhatti is a veteran grammarian whereas VatsaBhatti commits grammatical errors in some of his verses goes against such identification.

     ‘kumaardasa:’ (Kumaradasa):

             ‘kumaardasa:’ (Kumaradasa) is supposed to be the King of Ceylon and the author of the Mahakavyam ‘jaanakIhrNama\’ (Janakiharanam). As the title suggests it deals with the story of Ramayanam. The free use of certain grammatical forms in the book shows that he knew ‘kaiSakavaRi<a’ (Kasikavritti) a work on grammar written around 650 A.D. So it is likely that he belongs to the part of the 7th C.A.D. The identification of Kumaradasa with the King of Ceylon and the traditional stories connecting him with the poet Kalidasa lack historical evidence. The style of Kumaradasa is simple and he tries to imitate Kalidasa. But for his love in abundant alliterations he can be said to have completely succeeded in his imitation of Kalidasa. Only 20 cantos of his Mahakavyam has seen the light of the day. The style, poetical embellishments and other artistic qualities have won for Kumaradasa an eulogy from ‘rajaSaoKr’ (Rajasekhara) the author of ‘kavyamaImaaMsaa’ (Kavyamimamsa) in the following lines:

‘jaanakIhrNaM ktu-M rGauvMaSao isqato sait.

      kiva:kumaardasaSca ravaNaSca yaid xama:..’

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