Ritthnemichariyam Part 2

SR No.: 001427
Original Sutra Author: Swayambhudev
Author: Ramnish Tomar, Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: Prakrit Text Society Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1993
Total Pages: 220
Language: Prakrit, Apabhransh
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Story
File Size: 9 MB

Page 10

ments, descriptions and depiction of sentiment the poet enjoyed a measure of freedom, and he could expatiate on particular incidents he took fancy for. In the face of these limitations imposed by the then literary tradition, Svayambhủ displays a keen artistic sense, and prunes, rehandles or altogether parts company with his model to allow enough scope to his poetic fancy. The vivid, racy and sensuous description of water-sports in a fascinating setting of vernal scenery (Canto 14) has been always recognised as a classic. Various battle scenes, some incidents of tense moments in the Añjanā episode (Cantos 17-19), penetrative sadness enveloping the telling scene of Rāvana's cremation (Canto 77) can be mentioned as a few of the many highly inspired passages wherein Svayambhū's poetic genius is seen to find an unhampered expression, touching high excellence.
The Ritthaņemicariya
Svayambhū's second voluminous epic, viž. Ritthaņemicariya (Sk. Aristanemicarita) also called Harivamsapurāna, deals with the favourite subject of the life-story of the twentysecond Tirtharkara Arisțanemi, along with the narrative of Krsna and the Pāndavas in its Jain version. Its one hundred and twelve cantos (containing near-two thousand Kadavakas and about 18,000 units of thirtytwo syllables) are distributed over four books : Jayava (Sk. Yādava), Kuru, Jujjha (Sk. Yuddha) and Uttara. Here too Svayambhū had several precedents in Sanskrit, Prakrit and Apabhramsa, including Guņabhadra's Uttarapurāna in Sanskrit and Caturmukha's Bhārata-poem in Apabhramba. The portion of the Ritthanemicariya after the ninety-ninth Sandhi was written by Svayambhū's son Tribhuvana and further, a few interpolations were made in the sixteenth century by an Apabhramsa poet Yaśaḥkirti Bhațțāraka of Gopācala (modern Gwalior).
In view of the high degree of excellence, originality and breadth, Svarambhū can be doubtlessly ranked with the leading poets of Sanskrit and Prakrit Mahākāvyas.