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Introduction
CXLV
man- Brahman incarnate'. His mother Sávitrī was the crest - jewel of the Satīs, and was famous for her charities. The family belonged to the Kaula sect of Şaivism and so Dharma is often referred to as the Kaula Kavi Dharma. Dharma had an elder brother named Sarma and a sister named Gomatī. As a child he was a great dunce; so his father had asked him to find out some employment for himself. He became. a guardsman in some sugar-cane field on the other side of the Narmadā, and while serving there, through the favour of some Yoginī, his intellectual powers suddenly developed. As he approached the bank of the river to cross it, he burst into a poem describing its powerful flow.* He crossed the river in a boat and went home. But he was not welcomed by his father and so left his home in disgust abusing his Kaula sect in choicest terms. He toured all the provinces holding debates with the learned men and defeating them. He came to Dhārā and sent his challenge to the king Bhoja. There he describes himself as having defeated Sambhu of Gauda ( Bengal ), Dvija in Dhārā, Vishņu in Bhattia - Mandala and Pasupati in Srī Kānyakubja. His challenge is that let any body face him in the sciences of Tarka, Lakshana and Sāhitya. He easily defeats all the learned men of Bhoja's assembly. Bhoja sends for his friend the poet Dhanapāla who had left him as he was insulted in connection with
* एते मेकलकन्यकाप्रणयिनः पातालमूलस्पृशः संत्रासं जनयन्ति विन्ध्यभिदुरा वारी प्रवाहाः पुरः ।
हेलोद्वर्तितनर्तितप्रतिहतव्यावर्तितप्रेरित· 1974alparacaipirasigaatit: Il 783 H
Pra. Ch. p. 239. 19
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