Indian Antiquary Vol 41

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 130

126
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MAY, 1912.
Next to Patasjali we may mention the Ramayana and the Mahdthdrata. Although the greatest divergence of opinion prevails as to the dates of these two epics, we shall not be far wrong if we say that the two epics date in their extant form from at least the beginning of the Christian era. Both of them contain liere and there highly poetical passages. Many verses are quoted from the Mahabharata by writers cn poetics, such as Anandavardhana. The Ramayana specially abounds in elaborate descriptions and long-drawn metaphors. In this connection, the bigbly poetical description of the sca13 in Yuddha-kunda (IV, 110 ff.), the imaginative description of the sky in
Sundara-kânda (LVII, 1-4 ) and the elaborate Ripaka in Ayodhya-kardı (LIX, 288.) may be noted. The muse of such masters of classical Sanskrit as Kalidasa and Bhavabhûti drew her ins. piration from the two epics. It is not an empty boast that the Mahabharata makes when it says that the imagination of the poets is fired by this best of Itihasa' or that the best of poets depend upon this story.'14 We find the Dasarúpa advising the authors of dramas to borrow their plots from the Ramayana, the Brihat-katha and other works.16
Recent epigraphical researches have shown that in the first centuries of the Christian era, Indi: produced highly elaborated Sanskrit prose as well as poetry. One of the inscriptions from Girnar belonging to the 2nd century A.D., contains a piece of prose, which not only exhibits very long compounds, but also Anuprasa and various kinds of Upama and Rápaka. In that inscription Mahakshatrapa Rudradáman is praised as one who forcibly destroyed all warriors who did not submit to bim through pride caused by the fact that they were styled' heroes' in the presence of all Kshatriyas "16 and as one who obtained much fame by his mastery of the sciences of Grammar Mimasa, Music and Logic.'17 In the same inscription a reference is made to prose and poetry which were full of figures of speech, which looked fine on account of containing poetic convention and that were clear, to the point, pleasing, striking and charming. '18 An inscription belonging to the 4th century A. D. contains a prose which rivals the style of Banal and in which king Samudragupta is praised as one" to whom the title . Kaviraja' was applied on account of the composition of many karyas that were the source of inspiration to learned men.'20 In the same inscription Samudragupta's fame is compared to the white waters of the Ganges running quickly when freed from confinement in the matted hair of Siva 21
From the foregoing statement it will be clear that in the centuries preceding and immediately following the Christian era a vast mass of poetical material had been accumulated in Sanskrit for the cultivation of the science of poetics. We shall presently see that the elaboration of the canons of poetry and the figures of speech commenced with the beginning of the Christian era or even earlier. The composition of new poems and the evolution of rules of poetry henceforward proceeded hand in hand.
13 Hasantam.iva phenanghair=nrityantammiva chormibhil l'eti.'
. Itinasottamadcasm aj jayante kavibuddhayal ' Adi I'. II, 385; Idath kavi varaik sartaire Akhyanam nepajfuyate l' Ibid., II. 389.
16 Ity dycaseshame tha rastu-vibheda.jatan Ramayanadi cha tibhavya Prihatkathas challsdtrayet tad-ann neti-raadrugwayati chitratha kathaheuchita-chdru-vachal-praparichail || 1,61.
16 Sarvakshatravish krita-vira-sabdajatotekavidheyandih Yadheyanam Prasahyotaadakena'-Ep. Ind., Vol viii, p. 44
11 Sabdirtha-Gandharvua-Nyay-adyanath vidyandih mah atfedil paranadharana-vijnana prayogawa pla-vipula kerting-1. 13.
Spheta-laghw-madhura-chitra-kanta-babdasamayodar-Alashkrita.gadya padya..... (the rest is destroyed) - 1. 14.
1 Kripana-din-anth-atura-janoddharana-sama)ntra-diksh-ady-u pagata-nanasal semiddhasya tigraharatolokAnugrahasya Dhanada-Varunya-Indra-Antaka-samatya sya-bh uja-bala-vijita-Aneka-nara pali-vilhara-pratyarpparemilya-vyaprit-ayukta perushasya-Dr, Fleet's Gupta Inscr., p. 8, 1. 26.
2. Vidvoj-janopqjluy-Aneks-kauya-kriydbhil pratishthita-kaviraja-sabdasya, 1. 27.
1 (Yalah 1 ) PunGli bhuvana-trayal Pasupater.jjat-Antar-gu -niridha-parimokaha- ghram-iva pandu Gai gash payal, ll l. 31.