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INTRODUCTION
CHIMANLAL D. DALAL, M.A.
वाग्वल्लीदलदस्यवः कति न वा सन्त्याखुतुल्योपमाः
सत्योल्लेखमुषः स्वकोष्ठपिठरीसम्पूर्तिधावद्धियः । सोऽन्यः कोऽपि विदर्भरीतिबलवान् बालेन्दुसूरिः पुरो यस्य स्वर्गिपुरोहितोऽपि न गिरां पौरोगवस्तादृशः ॥
[31421f sacha:] The Vasantavilāsa is a historical Mahākāvya in 14 cantos, containing the life of Vastupāla, the well-known great minister of Viradhavala of Dholka, from the time of his ministry up to his death, and was composed for the delectation of Jaitrasinha, son of Vastupala. The Kirtikaumudi and the Sukritasankīrtana were composed about Samvat 1286, in the life-time of the minister, while the present work was composed after his death. As the author was a contemporary of the minister, this poem possesses all the authenticity of a contemporary work.
The author and his time. The author of the Vasantavilāsa is Bālachandra Sūri, pupil of Haribhadra Sūri of the Chandragaccha. In the first canto, the poet has given the account of his early life. In the town of Modheraka (in Kadi District in H. H. the Gaekwad's territories), there was a famous Brāhmana, named Dharādeva. He gave protection to the distressed from all sides and was acquainted with the doctrines of Jainism. The mendicants coming to his house always returned with hands full of money given by him. He had a wife named Vidyut. They had a son named Muñjāla, who, though living in his father's house, looked on the world as an illusion. Having got from Haribhadra Sūri religious enlightenment, he took the vow of the Jaina mendicant with the permission of his parents. Thinking that he will be gradually full-orbed with all phases of
१. श्रीवस्तुपालाङ्गभुवो नवोक्तिप्रियस्य विद्वज्जनमज्जनस्य ।
श्रीजैत्रसिंहस्य मनोविनोदकृते महाकाव्यमुदीर्यतेऽहो ॥१-७५।।
