Catalogue of Sanskrit and Prakrit Manuscripts In the Central Provinces and Berar

SR No.: 011132
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Rai Bahaddur Hiralal
Publisher: Central Provins and Berar
Total Pages: 887
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 27 MB

Page 55

III. --Use of new poetic measures such as Chaupai, Sorațba, Doha,etc. (which are otherwise only found in modern vernaculars). and the appearance of rhyme. These general characteristics sufficiently demonstrate the importance of the works for the philology of Hindi and other Northern vernaculars, We find in Pushpandanta a voluminous author. He wrote
an epic named Mahāpurāņa or Trishashthi Pushpadanta.
Salaka-purusha-charita divided into two parts, Adi-purana and Uttara-purana. Their subject matter is the same as that of the works of the same name by Jinasena and Gunabhadra. The whole work is completed in 102 sandhis or chapters equal in extent to about 13.000 slokas. Two other works of this author are Yasodhara cbarita and Nagakumäracharita. These are much shorter than the former, containing only four and nine chapters respectively. The subject matter of the first of these is the same as that of Yasastilaka-champu of Somadeva; that of Nágakumāra-charita is the life of another virtuous hero illustrating the māhātmya of Sruta Panchami. All these works are in Apabhramsa language. Pushpadanta prefaces his Mahāpurāna with a description of the circumstances which brought about the composition of the great work. We find the poet lving in a garden near the town of Mänyakheta, having wandered a long distance, whence and whither we know not. Two persons come and speak to the poet regarding the warm appreciation that his poetic virtues are likely to receive from Bharata, the minister of king Subhatungaiaya. The poet goes to see this minister and is duly honoured. Bharata induces hiin to stay in his palace and write poetry. Bharata's name is referred to in the colophon of each chapter of Mahāpurāna and many chapters open with a Sanskrit verse in his praise. The poet wrote the Yasodhara-charita and Nagakumāra-charita at the request of Bharata's son Nanna, From more than one reference in the works we learn that Pushpadanta was the son of Keśavabhatta and Mugdhadevi, and a Brahman of Kaśyapa gotra. Two lines in Nagukumaracharita seem to convey that he was first a devotee of Siva, but was converted to Jainism by the preaching of a Jain ascetic:--
सिवभत्ताइमि जिणसण्णासे । वेविमयाइ दुरियणिण्णासे ।।
बंभणाइ कासवरिसिंगोत्तइ । गुरुवयणामय पूरियसोत्तइ ।।
The "guru" is marginally explained as equal to "Digambara" with a note that the preacher was a Digambara Jain.
Pushpadanta uses for himself in many places such epithets as Abhimanameru, Kavyaratnakara, Kavvapisalla (Kavya pisacha ), Väyesari gharu (Vågesvarigriha) and the like. He also tells us that he bore a slender constitution and black and ugly complexion.