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CCCXII
Kavyanusasana
The verses placed at the end of every pada of the S. H. show his vigorous style and mastery in the poetry of the court.
Many of the illustrative verses in the Chhandonu. Sasana in the Samskṛta, the Prākṛta and the Apabhramṣa are genuine pieces of lyric poetry. If, as is the opinion of some scholars, most of them are Hemachandra's own compositions, they would show Hemachandra to be a writer of fine muktakas.
We have referred to Hemachandra's devotional hymns and Principal's Dhruva's remarks on one of them. Thus it would appear that Hemachandra was not only a great writer of Sastras but a writer of good poetry also. He was really a master of Lakshaṇa, Sahitya and Tarka,-Grammar, Literature and Philosophy.
Let us consider Hemachandra's personality. He had if the traditional explanation of his name is not, merely, a literary flourish - a bright complexion of golden hue; probably he had an imposing exterior. His works reveal him to be a great savant, an able writer of Ṣastric works, a good post. He was a great reformer of public morals - for that was what he achieved through his influence on Siddharāja Jayasimha and Kumārapāla. His prayers show him to be a genuine and thoughtful saint; and an autobiographic reference shows him to be a Yogin. Hemachandra was a genuine devotee of the Omniscient. No doubt, Hemachandra was a great man not only of his age, but of all ages. It may not be altogether irrelevant to say, here, that the Modha community of Kathiawar which gave one great man in Hemachandra, has given another great man to the world in Mohandas Karamachand Gandhi.
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