Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 30

CHAPTER II
THE AUTHOR: BHOJADEVA
The Ms. of the SMK mentions Mahārājādhirāja Parameśvara Sri Bhojadeva as the author of the work, and there is sufficient internal evidence to confirm this.
Aufrecht in his 'Catalogus Catalogorum't mentions a large number of works generally ascribed to this illustrious Paramāra king, but the SMK does not figure therein. Aufrecht makes the categorical statement that not one of the list is an authentic work of Bhoja. This assertion has been endorsed by modern scholars without however adducing cogent arguments in support of their view. What is more, the authenticity of not one of these works ascribed to Bhoja has been doubted or impugned by any subsequent literary evidence. On the contrary, the case of the Campū-Rāmāyang proves that no effort has been made to father upon Bhoja the author. ship of any work other than his own.2
In so far as the SMK is concerned the question presents, fortunately, little difficulty. There is sufficient internal evidence to warrant the conclusion that it is Bhoja's composition. This conclusion becomes better fortified when its kinship with the Sarasvati.
1. Part I, p. 418, part II, p. 95. Besides the two Prākrit Poems edited by Pischel
(El., Vol. VIII, pp. 241-260) Dr. N. P. Chakravarti records the find of two more Prákrit Poems of Bhoja on slabs in Dhar (A.S.I., 1934-35, section III, Epigraphy, p. 60). In this the colophon is similar to that in our text: gre FETTETfETTTTTTTTTTroaafarfa: EUS, ...
The editor, of course, doubts the authorship. 2. In the bulky volume of Campū-Rāmāyana which is also called 'Bhoja-campū
there are seven kändas. The first five are written by Bhoja. The 6th by Laksmanakavi and the 7th by Venkatādhvarin. At the end of the 6th kända Laksmanakavi writes
प्राग्भोजोदितपञ्चकाण्डविहितानन्दे प्रबन्धे पुनः ।
काण्डो लक्ष्मणमूरिणा विरचितः षष्ठोऽपि जीयात् चिरम् ।। And at the end of the 7th kāņda, Venkatādhvarin says the same, mentioning his own contribution also
य: काण्डा निबबन्ध चम्पूविधया पञ्चापि भोज: कवि: यो वा षष्ठमचष्ट लक्ष्मणकविस्ताभ्यामभाभ्यामपि । कारुण्यादवशेषितं किल मम क्षेमाय रामायणे फाण्डं सप्तममुग्दृणातु रसना चम्पुप्रवन्धात्मना ।