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SAHṚDAYALOKA
Gosthi is the next art-form in Bhoja. It is described by H., ND., Śā., NLRK., Vägbhața II & S.D. It may be noted that any earlier mention of gosthi prior to Bhoja is not seen among available documents. So, we have to start with Bhoja, who observes :
(Śr. Pra. pp. 468, ibid) -
906
goşthe yat tu viharataḥ
cestitam iha kaiṭabha-dviṣaḥ kiñcit, ristásura-pramathana-prabhṛti tad icchanti gosthiti.
This is a single äryä describing goṣṭhi. As Dr. Raghavan observes, this definition seems to be inspired by the word 'gostha' meaning a hamlet of cowherds. It is described as representation of the sports of young Kṛṣṇa in the Gokula of Nanda. It presents the killing of demons or asuras by Krsna.
Śāradātanaya has the following on 'gosthi. (B.P. pp. 375, ibid).
"athótpadyakathaikánkāgosthi śṛngāra-mantharā, rūpa-saundarya-lāvaṇyópetaṣat-pañca-nayikā.
Jain Education International
prākṛtair navabhiḥ pumbhiḥ, daśabhir va'py alamkṛtā, garbhavamarśa-sandhibhyām
śūnyā, nódātta-vāk-kṛtā, atra syāt kaiśiki vṛttiḥ mṛdvi nányarasāśrayā. na kunjara-ghaṭā❞ghātapātram bhavati kandali; gopi-pater-viharato gosthabalasya cestitam, yattu, yamalárjunā”didänava-nidhana-kṛtam
tat tu gosthi syat.
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