Studies in Jain Literature

SR No.: 001868
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: V M Kulkarni
Publisher: Shardaben Chimanbhai Educational Research Centre
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 114
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Story
File Size: 14 MB

Page 490

472 STUDIES IN JAIN LITERATURE that the work contains speeches of the god of love and his companions like Spring, Youth, Wind from the Malaya mountain, and others 42. In another gatha Anandavardhana says : "There is no limit to them and they never look like repetitions; (They stand for) the sportive graces of the beloveds and the meanings of the words of good poets. "43 "The heart of the Asuras was solely intent on seizing the Kaustubha jewel which was churned out of the ocean along with the goddess Laksmi. But the god of love set it on the bimba-like red lower lips of their beloveds."44 From the contents of these gathas and from the title itself : "The Sports of Cupid" it is reasonable to infer that the work must have dealt with the subject of love. 6. Praise of Prakrit Poets : In his introductory verses to Harsacarita the poet, Banabhatta praises Satavahana, also known as Salivahana and Hala, for his (Gatha) Kosa better known as Gathasaptasati, in these glowing terms : Satavahana made a treasury of fine sayings as of jewels, avinasinam (1. immortal; 2. indestructible) agramyam (1. not vulgar or indecent, i.e. refined; 2. not produced in villages--for jewels are found in the sea or in mines, not in villages) visuddha-jati (1. containing description of nature or objects that are not vulgar; 2. of purest character)45. Uddyotanasuri, the author of Kuvalayamala, (a unique Campu in Prakrit), extols Hala (and his (Gathakosa) in these words : "What is the use of composing poetry after the passing away of Hala whose poetry was on the tongues of even farmers (while ploughing their fields) ? (Or who made even the peasants skilful in clever conversation by mastery over beautiful expressions ?) when the intoxicating effect of the wine is no more, what is the of meat (kavva : 1 kavya 2 kravya)*6. The popularity of Gahasattasai can also be seen from the large number of commentaries it gave rise to and the vast number of quotations from it found in later works on Sanskrit poetics; in this context it is worth noting that Govardhanacarya modelled his Aryasaptasati in Sanskrit on Hala's Gahasattasai in Prakrit. Anandavardhana ranks Sarvasena with Kalidasa when he compliments him for inventing new episodes to supplement the original story and infusing it with a suitable rasa47,