RAMACARITA OF ABHINANDA Critically edited with an introduction BY K. 8. RAMASWAMI SASTRI SIROMANI, S'rauta Pandit, Oriental Institute, Barcda. Dass ORIENTAL INSTITUTE BARODAPrinted by RB. R, Bukhale, at the Rombay Vaibhay Press, Servants of India Society’s Home, Sandhurst Road, Girgaon, Bombay. AND Published on behalf of the Government of His Highness the Maharaja Gackwad of Baroda by Benoytosh Bhattacharyya at the Oriental Institute, Baroda. Price Rs, 7-8-0.PREFACE. The Ramacarita composed by the Bengal author Abhinanda in the medieval period is now presented to the public for the first time in original Sanskrit as No. XLVI of the Gaekwad’s Oriental Series. The object of the publication of this poem is two-fold: first, to enrich the classical Sanskrit literature with a famous, popular and masterly production of a well-known poet; and secondly, to show the extraordinary patronage extended by the Buddhist kings of the Pala dynasty of Bengal towards the orthodox Hindu poets. One Ramacurita by Sandhyakeranandin, with Rémapala a later king of the Pala dymhsty as the hero of the poem, is already well-known, and this is the:second Rgmacgrita composed by Abhinanda the court-poet of king“Bevapala alias Harvarsa Yuvaraja. The value of the publication of Abhinanda’s work cannot be overrated because of a large number of references to the author and the extensive quotations from the Aamacarita in the later Alaikara works right from the times of Mahima, Mammata and Bhoja to comparatively recent times. The edition of the Ramacarita is based on the following five MSS:— 1. A. A transcript prepared from a Ms. copy preserved in the Government Oriental MSS. Library, Madras. The Madras copy also is a transcript, prepared from a Ms, in Oriya script obtained on loan from M. R. Ry. HarihararAjaguru of Chochinajagannathapuram, in the Ganjam District Madras. This Ms. contains Sargas 1-40 by Abhinanda, the 40th Sarga being incomplete. The Ms. contains many good readings and is in a good condition. 2. 'B. A Ms. obtained by the Curator of the Madras MSS, Library from Bombay. The readings of this MS. were found noted down in the transcript A. The Bombay Ms contained Sargas 1-36 only as stated by the said Curator in one..of his letters. { 3. C, A Ms. preserved in the Library of the Oriental Institute, Baroda. This Ms. contains as usual Sargas 1-36, but it has, in addition, another recension of the last four Sargas ({ 37-40 ) attributed to one Bhimakavi. It abounds invi many errors and omissions, especially in the last four Sargas, A Ms, obtained on Joan from the Bikaner Palace Library ‘This Ms. also contains Sargas 1-36 as in B, and is fairly correct and well preserved. A transcript prepared from a Ms. preserved in the. Jain Bhandars at Patan. This copy was discovered in the office of the ‘Translation Branch of the Vidyadhikari office at Baroda and presented to the Oriental Institute by, the translation assistant Mr. Manjulal Majumdar, M.a., Ub3., when 10 formes were already printed. . It contained. only the first 28 Sargas. It was practically useless for collation purposes as the readings were similar to.C from. which obviously the transcript was prepared. Our grateful acknowledgments are due in the first instance to Sir Manubhai N, Mehta, Kt., c.s.z., Prime Minister of the Bikuner State for taking an interest in this work and for helping’ us: materially by granting loan of the Bikaner Palace Library Ms. of the-Ramacarita, which we had no chance of obtaining otherwise. We are-also much indebted to the Curator of the Government Oriental MSS Library, Madras for kindly supplying a transcript collated with the Bombay Ms. of the work; and to Mr. M. A. Joshi of the Oriental Institute for the help rendered to us in collation and in the preparation of the press-copy and the index appended to this volume. Baroda The 6th Soplonter 1929. { K, 8, RAMASWAMI SASTAI.INTRODUCTION. i eal I. THE AUTHOR. Abhinanda, the author of this lengthy but charming piece of compo- sition in the form of a Mahikavya entitled the Rémacarita Testimony of was known to the later writers under ceveral names showing later writers. his popularity in the learned circles. He was known as Abhinanda, Abbinandana, Gaudabhinanda, ; Sat&nanda, Aryaviltisa and Vildsa. As this author possessed rare gifts of composition and a vigorous style he became famous as a poet even in his life-time, and consequently the later writers locked upon him as a poet equal in merits to KGlidisa, Bana and Vakpatirdja. They showed their respects to him by quoting his verses in their compositions, and classed him amongst the best poets.of India, The later works referring to Abhinanda may be divided in three diatinct classes : I. Anthologies. Il. Creative poems aud Aladkara works. IIE. Scholastic works and stray compositions. I “The compilers of the following Anthologies quote profusely from the works of Abhinanda to whom they occasionally attribute the names of Abhinandana and Gaud&bhinanda. 1. Kavindravacanasamuccaya is a Sanskrit Anthology edited’ by the celebrated Orientalist Dr. F. W. Thomas in 1912. The edition is based on one single Ms. of the work discovered by Mah@mahopadhyiya Pandit Hara. prasida Sastri from Nepal. Both the discoverer and the editor of the work aré of opinion that the nature and the writing of the Ms. cannot warrant any ‘date later than 1200 A. D.? In this work no less than five verses are quoted from the works of Abhinanda, though none can be traced in the Rémacarita, the present work. ——"~"9,Saduktikarndmrta is another Anthology, only a fraction of which bas up till now been published® by the Jate Mm. Ramavatara Sarm& Sehityacarya of Patna, Sridharadsa its author was the son of Vatud&sa a contemporary of King Laksmanasena of the Sena Dynasty of Bengal and, therefore, belonged to the twelfth century. As the work was compiled in Beugal most of the | verses quoted therein were the compositions of authors who flourished in » 1, .No. 1809, Bibliotheca Indica, New Series. “8h. B.'b. Phe introduction of the Kavindraoacans-Samuceaya, 8. “No. 1843, Bibliotheoa Indica, New Seriee,viii Bengal. Quite alarge number ‘of verses (numbering 22) is quoted in this anthology under the name of Abhinanda, though ont of a total of 22, only two! are traceable in the Rémacarita. 3. Sktimuktéoali is the third work of this kind compiled by Arobaka Bhagadatta Jalhana who was a contemporary of King Krsna (1247 A. D.) of Deccan, the grandson of king Sifighana’ (1210 A. D.). In this work three verses are attributed to Abhinandana, and at least two among them are found in the present work®. 4, Another anthology which mentions Abhinanda and his verses, is the Sdrigadiara-Paddhati. This work was compiled’ by Sarigadhara, the grandson of Raghavadeva who was one of the preceptors of King Hammira of the Chauhan Dynasty who ruled over the country called Sdkambhari. Pro- bably he is the hero of the Hammira-mahékdoya of Nayacandra Stiri where: his date of ascension to the throne is mentioned as Vikrama Saravat 1339 # 1283 A. D. The time of the compilation of this anthology, therefore, may fall in the first half of the 14th. century. At least four verses here are attributed to Abhinanda or Gaftddbhinanda by Sarfigadhara but none among them can be traced in the Ramacarita. Besides the above, there are several other anthologies such as the Padydeali and the Subsdsitahdrdvali where Abbinanda is referred tot. These references lose much of their value as they generally do not quote from original authors but reproduce the same verses found in earlier anthologies. From the extensive quotations from Abhinanda fonnd in the four earliest anthologies it is obvious that Abhinanda was famous: thronghout India at the time of their composition, becanse their anthors helonged to the different parts of the country such as, Bengal, the Deccan and the Central India. These references also lead us to conclude that there were some other works and stray verses composed by Abhinanda from which the compilers of the anthologies quoted the verses attributed to Abhinanda but not traceable in the Rémacarita’. 1. Geeereaarerait, ete. Saduktikarpamria 11, 748, R@macarita 2, 84, ae teeter sea 8. K.y. 100, R. 0. 15, 67. 2. P, VIL. Bhandarkar’s Report during the years 1887—1891. . 3. utr Rreqnerm, 8. ML 1415, RO. 2, 99. ard gag or fae, 8. M. I41 a. R, 0. 2, 98, > 4. PB. 21, Introduction of the Kavindravacana-Samuccaya, 5. Some may even postulate another poet of the same name, as the author is sometimes mentioned as Abhinandana and Gaudébhinands. This matter will he ‘@isoussed more fully in the’ sequel,ix IL Besides the anthologies, Abhinanda is also mentioned in some early Kavya and Alaikira works where the author is praised for his singular abilities of a high class poet, famous even in his own days. The Udaya- ‘sundart Kathd, a Champu Kavya by Soddhala may be regarded as the earliest among them. This work has been published in the @aekwad’s Oriental Series a3 No. XI and the date of Soddhala has been fixed there as the first half ofthe 11th century. Soddhala in this work mentions Abhinandw in several places' and characterises him as one of the best poets and as equal in many respects to the well-known authors like Kalidasa, Bana and Nakpatirdja.? The Kirtikaumudi of Somegvaradeva is the next work which mentions Abhinanda snd describes his merits in the most flattering terms. This Somegvaradeva was a family priest of kings Bhimadeva and Lavanaprasida And was patronised by the two ministers Vastupala and Tejahpala. He composed two works, namely, the Kirtikaumud? and the Surathotsave, bath of which have been published. The editor is of opinion that the author flourished in the middle of the 18th century? A, D. While stating the podtical attainments of Yadovira, Somedvara compares the compositions. of Mégha, Abhinanda and Kélidagat and characterises them to be far inferior to those of Yagovira, without, however, realizing the absurdity of his remarks: Among the anthora of Alankara works Ksemendra mentions one Abhi- nanda in his Suerttatilaka and mentions Abhinacda’s fondness for Anustabh | metre in his compositions.’ Regarding the time of Ksemendra it may Be | remembered that he wasa pupil of Abhinavagupta who flourished: in cir. 1000 A. D. Til. Ujjvaladatta in his Upddisdtravytti in several instances quotes some of the verses of Abhinanda to support the validity of his derivation of words and mentions him by name. In this work there are no less than font dlokas | 1, pp. 8, 1; 27, 4; 154, 14; 157, 4. | 2. apteat ga aashiaeg-ateat Teas Grat Aa = ane org PeaAe th P. 157-4, | 8, See page 1X of the introduction of the Kérti-Keumudé. 4. aaa: meat SRaatagsta Rewer: aifeqaitt whiter. aaa w Kirtt-Kaumudt p. 3, 5. aageaaareaa wierrced aT Parerenag3 afer nary st Suorttotilaka-Kévyamale 2nd Tare p, 58,x attributed to Abhinanda' out of which three are actually traced in the Ramacarita. BS Sarvinanda, the Vandyaghatiya and a Bengali | commentator on the Amarakoga, whose work has been published in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series, aa Nos $8 hag also referred to this Abhinanda twice?.in -his work, and-quotes two verses which are traceable in the present work*. Sarvdnanda flourished. in the middle of the tah century and belonged: to.a Banerjee family of Bengal*. -Rayamukuta is another Bengali author who bas referred to Abhinanda in his ‘commentary on the Amarakoga. Three verses are quoted by him under the name of Abhinanda and one of them at least is found in the Rémacarita,’ In this connection we need not point ont that Ujjvaladatta and Rayamukute belonged to the middle of the 13th and the 15th centuries respectively. 5... « Further, there are many stray poetical compositions in the anthologies in:which wany-excellent poets including Abhinanda are eulogized. In the Saktimudtacali and the S'dragadhara-Paddhati, for instance, there isa verse teferring to Amara, Acala, Abhinanda and Kalidasa‘. Here itis said that there are only four persous who can be considered as poots; all others who attempted ‘to. direct their skill at poetry behaved: like the (imitating) monkeys.. This may be taken as an exaggerated statement. because there is little trath in it. Very: little is indeed known. about the first two poots Amara, ar and Acala, butthe skill of Abhinanda in selecting apt and simple words in his composition as represented in the Rémacarite verily” proves the ‘ rrectnéss of the author’s contention. ete sy. these references in later works it is. obvions that, Abhinanda commanded wide popularity in the five centuries from the 11th, to:the.15tb,, during which the Rémacarita was, regarded as a repository of excellent sayings which were quoted profusely by later writers. freraizort sat: agus: Unddiertti—Anfrecht’s edi, 1-2 adi: ogee Sarit: suas: u Rémacarita 18, 86. amaaarn gear alt wranlta 1 Unddieytti 1-48. Rdmecqrita 10. 2, an Seren 1 Opdaiorut ‘TV. 117. Rémacarita 18-85, _ pp. 28, 45, 3, Chap. 16, 614 28, 103, 4, See the introduction of the P.8.8. edition: : 5. erafgd rate: gear 1 Réyamakuta ad. 1. 1.7, 2, Rémacarita 28, 28 6. ain: Side: efits PIRqEET wa wa: Se: SNEAK ga, MarigalT0y,. SAkti-myktéogli.. Bhandarkar; p. cits ps XIII,x It has already. been pointed out that Abhinanda has been mentionad: in later’ works. by several names, and it is; :therefore,’ necessary to discuss whether all these names refer to one person or several others as well. In the anthologies some verses ara, attributed to one Abhinandana, some to Ganda Abhinanda besides the Abhinanda of the Rémacarita. Besides these, there are two other works entitled the Kédambarthathasdra' and the Yogavasisthaséra? . said to be of Abhinanda’s authorship. It is also possible that there were other works composed by Abhinanda, as can be inferred from the verses attributed to him in the early anthologies but not traceable in the Ramacarita.. Some’ scholars think that the two poems, Kédambartkathaséra and the ‘Rémacarita were composed by two different authors with the same name but belonging to’two different families. The author of the Kadambarikathasdra characterises limself as the son of Jayantabhatta, grandson of Kalyadna- svémin, who was the son of Saktisvamin. The grandfather of Saktisvamin was Sakti who originally belonged to Gauda or Bengal but migrated latet to the village known as Dérvabhiséra in Kashmir and permanently resided if that country: after getting himself married there.* . Among’ the forefathers’ of Abhinanda, Jayantabhatta and Saktisvaémin, are known tous as “historiaal persons, the former as the author of the Nydyamaijari. and the latter.as the minister of King ‘Lalitalitya Muktdépida of the. Karkotaka _ dynasty of Kashmir. The anthor of the Rdmacarita, on the other hand, does ‘not. give many details about his pedigree except to mention that he was the son of Sitduanda.’ With regard to the identity of Satingnda.or his native. conutry nothing definite is up till now known. 2 On the strength of these materials we have to. consider the observations of Dr. Babler. made so early as 1873.in the second volume of the Indian Antiquary, to-establish the identity cf these two authors as premature and .unrelisblé: Itsis,, however, to be pointed out that the later writers, equally,quoted.ja large number of verses from. both. the works referred to above: without, making any , distinction whatsoever. . Abhinavagupta and Ksemendra refer to..the Rideptertieee in their Dhpanilocana® and Suorttatilaka.” The Published in the N. 8. Press Kavyamala No. 11. .; foeichih oy “Published ii in the N.S. Press. in Sam, 1944 with the Ktmasukba?s; Com: » mentary. i ‘Br, F. W. Thomas, Antrecht, and the editor. of the Bde hari, in the N.S. Prose. ..” Vide the initial 12 verses of the Rédanbir.. Katha 5, aur get ea: wer Aid sted ae greatnates aearrgiaser! ii 'R.O. p, 39. : 6. ‘Srd Uayota. aSra nee % 1-16, on His namesake.a x information supplied by Ksomendra regarding the fondness of Abhinanda fot the Anustubh metre is equally applicable to both the authors. Bhojadeva quoted many verses from both the Kadambarikathdsdra and the Ramacarita. About 50 dlokas of the Rémacarita are found quoted in his S'rigdraprakisa and the Sarasratikanthdbharana and only a few verses are to be fourd from the other work. But Soddhala, Ujjvaladatta and Rayamukuta quote verses under the name of Abhinanda only from the Rémacarita and not from the Kadambartkathésérd. We can be sure, therefore, that these works of two Abhinandas were well-known to the later writers, though they do not produce sufficient evidence to disprove their identity. It is thus necessary to examine whether the two authors ‘represent one and the same person or they are entirely different, There ‘are at least four reasons which favour the identification. These are as follows :— 1. Ksemendra informs us that the Anustubh is the favourite metre of Abhinanda, But it is used by both of them very often in their works. Exeepting some verses in the end of every chapter the whole of the Rédambarikathisdra is composed in the same metre. Similarly, in the Rémacariia we find at least 9 chapters written in that metre. 2. The fact that one is quoted as Gauda Abhinanda cannot be regarded as the surest indication to distinguish the one from the other Abhinanda, because both the authors can be styled as Gaudas as they really belonged to that country. It has already been shown that the forefathers of Abhinanda of the Kadambarikathésdra really belonged to the Ganda country though they afterwards made Kashmir their home. The surname Gauda as given to this Abhinanda is therefore quite appropriate. Abhinanda of the Rémacavita on'the other hand, also belonged to Gauda or Bengal, because he stayed in the'eourt of a Bengali King as will be shown in the sequel. It is, therefore, ébvidns that the surname Gauda is also quite appropriate in the case of the sither of the RAémacarita also. It is, however, difficult with the present waterials to say whether he originally belonged to the Ganda country or not. 3. Itis generally expected that the two authors should show two different styles of writing if they are different. On the basis of the style as can be met with in these two works, identity of the two authors Cannot be shaken, because the style in both is equally simple, charming, expressive and clear. But the Rdmacarita may be considered as more descriptive and original than the other. This also does not go against the identity because to a close observer this appears to be simply the result of mature thinking and style, as, obviously, because of its incompleteness the Rdmacarita may be regarded as the last and the most mature work of the agthor,