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MAY, 1912.] OUTLINES OF THE HISTORY OF ALAMKARA LITERATURE.
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Panini himself appears to have been a poet. We are told by Kelemendra in bis Surrittatilaku that Panini excelled in the Upajâti metre. Namisadhu, when commenting upon Rudrata's Kávydlankdra tells us that Pâqini composed a Mahakavya named Patalavijayo. He then quotes some words from that work, and gives a whol, verse from Panini.. The Sarngadhara-paidhali and the Subhashitarali both ascribe a number of verses to Panini. It is curious that many of the verses ascribed to Panini in the above two anthologies as well as the verse quoted by Namisidhu are in the Upajūti netre. Great caution is necessary in admitting the evidence of writers belonging to the 11th century A.D. with respect to Panini who flourished at least fifteen hundred years earlier. It is possible that the poet Påņini may be qnite distinct from the grammarian Pâțini. But as long as no positive proof of this is forthcoming, we may provisionally say that Panini, the gran marian, was also a poat, the more so because a number of critical writers like Kshemendra and Namisadhu refer to him as such.
The Vârtikas of Katyayana furnish us with positive proof of the fact that the class of compositions known as Althyáyilás was much in vogue in his day or even earlier. Although the identity of Vararuchi and Kâtyâyana is not beyond the pale of discussion, still it is highly probable. Patanjali speaks of a Karya composed by Vararuchi. A number of verses are ascribed to Vararuchi in the Subhashitarali. So in the fourth century B.c. Sanskrit poems had been composed.
In the time of Patanjali (i. e., 2nd century B.C.) poetical activity appears to have been very considerable. While commenting upon the Vârtika Lubakhudyildbhyo bahulam, Patañjali mentions by name three works belonging to the Akhyāyika class of composition, viz., Vasavadatta Sa manottara and Bhaimarathi.10 Patañjali seems also to refer to two poems dealing with the death of Kasa and the humiliation of Bali.11 Besides, the Mahabhashya contains a large number of quotations drawn from the works of poets and writers that were prior to him, some of which possess great beauty and historic interest. A few of the most interesting quotations are given below.)3
Sprihankyatva-charita Paniner-Upajatibhiḥ | Chamatkaraikasárábhir=Udyanasyeva jätibhiḥ il Suurilta. III. 30.
• Tatha hi Paninch Parala vijaye Mahakavyo-sandhyâradhari grikya karena ityatra grihyeli ktvo lyabadesal on Rudrata II. 8.
Tathd tary=aiva kateh-Gate & ndhardtre parimandumandara garjanti vat provrishi kalameghal apaśyat vatsam=ivo endu-bimbar tach-chharvarl gaur siva hurskaroti Il on Rudrata II. 8.
See Prof. Peterson's Introduction to Subhashitavali, pp. 54-58. The verge 'Upodharagena vilolatárakam,' etc., occurs in the Dhranyalokci, P. 85, and the verse Aindran dhanu pandupayodharena' occurs in the Kavyalari kara-sutra of Vamana IV.3.27 (under Akshepa).
As the poet Panini in the two vornos quoted by Namisidha on Rudrata II. 8. URON ungrammatioal forms ( at and Ta), it is almost certain that he cannot be the grammarian Panini-DR. B.
+ Vide the Vartika Lubakkydyikabhyo bahulam 'on Papini IV. 3.87.
The Brihatkathamañjarf identifies the two:- Tasyahan Vasudattayam jata! Srutadharūbhidhah | Katyayano Vararuchis.ch-ety-anvartha-kritahrayah' || 1. 2-15.
Tat tena kritam na cha tena proklam Vararucham kavyan' | Mahabhdahya II. p. 315 (Kielhorn). 1. Adhikritya krite granthe ity-atra akhayikabhyo bahulan lub vaktavyal Vasavadar ta Sumanottard | Na cha bhavati | Bhaimarath' | M. B., Vol. II, p. 313.
11 Karavadham-achashto Karsari ghatayati Balibandham-achashte Balish bandhayati, 1 M. B., Vol. II. p. 34.
12 Asi-drilyo Susasdra Pandavam and Sankarshana-dvitiyasya balah Krishnasya vardhatam Vol. I, p. 426 ; Jaghana karheanh kila Vasudeval | Vol. II. p. 119; Janardanastvatma-chaturtha era | Vol. III. p. 149.; Priyor mlayarak pratinarnrititi and Yaduat-tuan naravara narnsilishi brishtal I Vol. III. 838 ; Atmanıbharii-charali Witham-asevamanah I Vol. II. p. 102: Dubhukahitaris na pratibhati kiruchit Vol. I. p. 444; vanantad-oda kantat priyals punthan - anwurajet | Vol. I. p. 340; Kalah pachati bhutani kalah sath harati prajah 1 Vol. II, p. 167 ; Koheme Pubhikshe keritashchayani purani rojnam visayanti kopam | Vol. II, p. 438 ; eti jfvantam-Anando nararh varaha-Salad api | Vol. I, p. 277 ; Varatanu sampravadanti kukkuţ& I Vol. I, p 283. Of these 'eti,' eto, ooours in Ramayana Yulha-kinda (123.2.) where it is referred to as a popular verse (laukiki gátha). The last quotation is ascribed to Kendradasa, who might have beon prompted by the same desire that produced the Parsyabhyudaya.
