Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 31

ŚṚNGĀRAMAÑJARĪKATHĀ
kaṇṭhābharana (SKA) and Sṛngaraprakasa (SP), acknowledged by common consent as Bhoja's works, is taken into account.
8
Let us deal with the internal evidence first. The colophons of every Kathānikä uniformly read: इति महाराजाधिराजपरमेश्वरश्रीभोजदेव farfarai etc. Next is the concluding verse of the SMK. After paying homage to the Goddess Sarasvati in four Prakrit gāthās, in the fifth stanza, which is unfortunately not complete, Bhoja's authorship of the SMK is asserted. It reads thus:
. वत्सराणां शकद्विष: ।
कृतेयं भोजराजेन कथा [ शृंगारमञ्जरी ] ॥
The stanza definitely mentions Bhoja as the author of the present work. If only the first pada of the stanza had not been lost the question of the date also would have been settled once for all.
In the body of the text also there is a reference to the authorship of this king of the Paramāra family. In the description of a mountain it is said: एतत्कथाकारमिव विराजितपरमारावनीपवंशम् (f. 135b, 5-6). Besides there is the introductory scene, where Bhoja is described as sitting in an informal assembly of friends, relatives and learned men. They request him to narrate a Katha. A short, but interesting discussion follows, from which we get information about certain technical aspects of the Katha as a literary form of composition.3 There is little probability of any other story-teller giving expression to his own views in the name of Bhoja on this matter. On the other hand, the description of the literary assemblage here given is a faithful picture of such informal assemblages prevalent in those days.
5
The SMK begins with the description of the city of Dhārā. The Paramāras were well-known as excellent builders;4 and it is an accepted fact that it was Bhoja who rebuilt Dhārā in the early part of the eleventh century. Is it any wonder then that Bhoja should call it the most distinguished city on earth and be tempted to praise his own creation and lay the scene of the story in it? At one place, while describing the various magnificent structures in the city of Dhārā, the author also says that 'they put to shame all the old residences of the town' ( या चोल्लसन्तीभिरमलस्फटिक प्राकारकान्तिपरम्पराभिरुप हसतीव त्रिभुवनेऽपि पुरातनान्यखिलसन्निवेशस्थानानि ) – perhaps a veiled reference to his having rebuilt the city.
It has been mentioned in the previous chapter that the title of the work is significant looking to the purpose of the text. The SMK illustrates some technical aspects of raga, which is an essential
3. See Chapter IV infra.
4. Ganguly, D. C., History of the Paramara Dynasty (1933), pp. 254-275; Munshi, K. M., Imperial Gurjaras, p. 146 f.
5. Ganguly, op. cit, p. 27.