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One reason Sanskrit literature is underrated in the West is because its primary genius w.r.t. ingenious word-play is not grasped
Instead works are evaluated purely for their "meaning"
To illustrate this, let's take a verse from shrI harsha's great mahAkAvya - Naiṣadha-charita
Instead works are evaluated purely for their "meaning"
To illustrate this, let's take a verse from shrI harsha's great mahAkAvya - Naiṣadha-charita
This is a poem authored by shrI harsha
A remarkable poet who worked under the patronage of the Gahadavala kings of Kannauj and Varanasi, in the 12th cen
This particular poem of his is accorded "mahAkAvya" status, accorded to just 4 other poems in Sanskrit literature
A remarkable poet who worked under the patronage of the Gahadavala kings of Kannauj and Varanasi, in the 12th cen
This particular poem of his is accorded "mahAkAvya" status, accorded to just 4 other poems in Sanskrit literature
The poem on the surface, deals with the romance of Nala and Damayanti, an ancient tale that is discussed even in our itihAsas
But let's now look at the English translation of this verse that details Nala's education by Mr. Krishna Kanta Handiqui in the 20th cen
But let's now look at the English translation of this verse that details Nala's education by Mr. Krishna Kanta Handiqui in the 20th cen
There is a reference to Nala being the master of the 14 disciplines (chaturdasha - 14)
But notice how the word chaturdasha is repeated here.. - the use of caturdaśatvaṃ
Here it does not refer to 14 sciences. Rather, the four "दशाs" (4 states)
But notice how the word chaturdasha is repeated here.. - the use of caturdaśatvaṃ
Here it does not refer to 14 sciences. Rather, the four "दशाs" (4 states)
The four states refer to -
adhīti (study, adhyayan)
bodha (understanding)
ācaraṇa (practising what you've learnt)
pracāraṇa (propagation, teaching, upadesha)
So Nala is one who covers all 4 states (chaturdashA) for all 14 sciences (chaturdasha vidyAh)
adhīti (study, adhyayan)
bodha (understanding)
ācaraṇa (practising what you've learnt)
pracāraṇa (propagation, teaching, upadesha)
So Nala is one who covers all 4 states (chaturdashA) for all 14 sciences (chaturdasha vidyAh)
A plain English translation may cover the meaning
But it can never capture the genius here...
The genius of using chaturdasha in two very different senses in the same verse and yet make sense!
But it can never capture the genius here...
The genius of using chaturdasha in two very different senses in the same verse and yet make sense!
This verse was brought to my attention by this fine lecture on shrI harsha by Mani Dravida Sastrigal (it's in Tamil)
