Sambodhi 2011 Vol 34

Author(s): Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 67

Vol.XXXIV, 2011 Appashastricharitam : Evaluation of a Biography,
57 तदलं प्रणयेन ते सखि त्यज मां निष्प्रतिपत्तिमानतम् । नय वा न चिराद्वयाकुला चरणाम्भोजयुगं परेशितुः ।। यदि मयि तव प्रेमैवास्ते नितान्तमनोरमम् ।
सह सखि मया कैलासाद्रौ चिराय निवत्स्यसि ॥ Chandrika started again in Kolhapur. There were people who criticized Chandrika. Appashastri was proud of his periodical and knew what he was doing was right. Appashatri heard many allegations against him and answered them through Chandrika. His answer and its language is worth noticing. It reads, 'श्रुत्वा य तेषां विप्रलापान्न वमखण्डस्य प्रथमाङ्के एव गर्जितमेतैः, "ये पुनर अकारणम् एव सुदूरमुत्सार्य सौजन्यं मात्सर्यमात्रमवलम्बमानाः पाण्डितमन्याश्चन्द्रिकां तिरस्कुर्वन्ति, परोक्षे वा वितथ-दोष-व्याख्यानया कृतार्थमात्मानं मन्यन्ते, चे य सर्वाङ्गाणि-यौवनभरालसाया: वामाक्ष्याः सौन्दर्यमपहाय पूय-क्लिन्न-व्रणमात्रम् अन्विष्यन्त्या मक्षिकायाः सरणिमनुसरन्तो दोषमात्र – दर्शिताम् आलम्बन्ते, ये वा चन्द्रिकेति नामश्रवणमात्रत एव सनासासंकोचं मुखं परावर्तयितुम् इहन्ते, येऽपिवा तृणच्छन्न-कूपोपमया वचसि माधुर्यं सारल्यं च मनसि पुननैकान्तिकं काटवं, कौटिल्यं पिशुनतां च स्थिरीकृत्यैव चन्द्रिकया साकं व्यवहरन्ति ।' (AC, p. 88).
Publication of Chandrika was delayed in 1902 C. E. due to paucity of funds. Ninth volume, which was supposed to be completed in May 1901, was completed : with difficulty in October 1901. (AC, p. 94) Appashastri wanted to complete 10th volume in May 1902, which meant that publishing two issues in a month. This task required money and there was no good response from the subscribers.
Appashastri appealed subscribers earnestly that they should accept at least one issue of Chandrika sent by v.P. (अन्ततश्च वी. पी. द्वारा प्रेरितां षष्ठोत्तरां यां कामपि संख्यां स्वीकृत्य कृतार्थीकुर्वन्तु अस्माकमायासम् । AC, p. 94) ... Appashastri decided to publish first issue of 10th volume in May 1903. C. E.
This gave him six months of respite. Appashastri sold his commentary on Kalidasa's ‘Malavikagnimitra' to Venkatesvara Press in Mumbai in order to pay his debt. (निवेदितपूर्वमेव १८१८ तमे शाकवर्षे श्रीमतः कालिदासस्य मालविकाग्निमित्रं नाम नाटकं व्याख्यातमेतैः इति । तदेतत् १८२४ तमे शाकवर्षे मुम्बय्यां वेंकटेश्वर-मुद्रणालयाधिपतिना प्रकाशितम् । ऋणपरिहाराय खल विक्रीतमेतत् तस्मै । AC, p. 95)
Then there was one institute in Wai, which published translations of Puranas (Purana Prakashan Mandali) in Marathi language. Appashastri undertook the task of translating Vishnupurana in Marathi language, for which he received some remuneration (AC, p. 98). Appashastri also took up the task of translating Mahabharata in Marathi language with Ganesh Vishnu Chiplunkar Mandali to return his debt. (ऋणनिवारणाय यथा खलु अप्पाशास्त्रिभिः श्री विष्णुपुराणम् अनूदितम् एवं पुण्य-पत्तनीयगणेश-विष्णु-चिपळुणकर-मण्डल्याः कृते श्रीमहाभारतमपि अनुवादयितुं समुपक्रान्तम् । AC, p. 107)