SEVEN FASCINATING TOPICS FROM SANSKRIT LITERATURE - 6. SHRINGARA SHATAKAM

                                          

                       

 SHRINGARA SHATAKAM: THE POETRY OF ROMANCE AND AESTHETICS

 Śṛṅgāra Śatakam** is traditionally attributed to **Bhartṛhari**, the celebrated Sanskrit poet associated with the **Śatakatraya**—*Nītiśatakam*, *Śṛṅgāraśatakam*, and *Vairāgyaśatakam*. The work presents about one hundred verses dealing with **love, beauty, youth, attraction, desire, separation, and worldly pleasure**. The Sanskrit text is preserved as *Śṛṅgāraśatakaṃ Bhartṛhariviracitam*.

 The central aesthetic idea is **śṛṅgāra**, the sentiment of love. The poet beautifully describes the power of a woman's glance, smile, speech and graceful movements. For example, he says:

 भ्रूचातुर्याकुञ्चिताक्षाः कटाक्षाः स्निग्धा वाचो लज्जिताश्चैव हासाः ।

bhrūcāturyākuñcitākṣāḥ kaṭākṣāḥ snigdhā vāco lajjitāś caiva hāsāḥ.

 The graceful eyebrows, sidelong glances, gentle words and modest smiles are presented as the **ornaments and weapons of women** (*Śṛṅgāraśatakam*, v. 8).

    Nature also plays an important role. **Spring, flowers, moonlight, fragrance and pleasant surroundings** intensify the emotions of lovers. The poet particularly describes the beauty and pleasures associated with different seasons. In verses 51–53, for example, he depicts romantic life during **autumn and winter** and shows how natural surroundings influence human emotions.

The work, however, is not merely about romantic enjoyment. It also reflects on the **transience of youth and beauty**. Thus, *Śṛṅgāra Śatakam* combines **love, aesthetics, human psychology and reflection on worldly life**, making it an important example of classical Sanskrit lyric poetry.

 Reference

*Bhartṛhari, Śṛṅgāraśatakam*, verses 8, 51–53; Sanskrit text available through Sanskrit Documents.

  

(This blogpost is written by me - a team member of Piyush Plotters' which is a part of Blogchatter's Half marathon)