FIVE POINTS ON THE GREAT POETIC LITERATURE IN SANSKRIT LANUAGE

शब्दार्थौ काव्यम् –is the definition of Kavyam.   Poetry known as

Kavyam in Sanskrit is placed after Vedas and Puranas.  It is one of the three types of literature in sanskrit language – गद्यम् prose, पद्यम् poetry & चम्पू a mixture of both prose and poetry.  चतुष्पदं पद्यम् - is the definition for पद्यकाव्यम् – poetry literature.

Ramayanam is known as आदिकाव्यम् – first literature, written by वाल्मीकिः in 24,000 slokas, this first epic आदिकाव्यम् is divided into seven chapters namely  बाल - अयोध्या - अरण्य - किष्किन्धा - सुन्दर - युद्ध & उत्तर काण्डा

Epics have influenced many poets to compose Kavyas in Sanskrit.

Maha Kavya known is elaborate in size.   “सर्गबन्धो महाकाव्यम् उच्यते तस्य लक्षणम्” = Any poetical composition which is well knit in chapters is called a MahaKavya. 

The plot of Mahakavyas can be taken from Puranas and other good sources . It can also be based on the political and social problems of the age.  

There are five Mahakavyas popular in Sanskrit Literature. 

Kalidasa is one such poet who has written two Mahakavyas namely Raghuvamsam and Kumarasambhavam. 

Kiratarjuneeyam of Bharavi, 

Sisupala Vadham of Magha and

Naishadheeya Charitam of Sri Harsha 

 

 Kalidasa’s comparative beauty is unique.  The following sloka praises the glory of above great poets –

“ उपमा कालिदासस्य भारवेरर्थगौरवम् ।

दण्डिनः पदलालित्यं माघे सन्ति त्रयो गुणाः”

‘Kalidasa excels in his similes, Bharavi excels in depth of ideas, Dandin excels in his lucidity of words and Magha excels in all the three qualities’.