महाकवबाणभ णीता कादबर पवभागू : FIRST PART KAADAMBARI OF BAANABHATTA I BOOK OF KING SHUDRAKA SANSKRIT TEXT /TRANSLATION/EXPLANATION BY Narayanalakshmi 1 ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in Bangalore, India, the so-called Lakshmi (Master of Sanskrit and Philosophy, and a language teacher by profession) changed miraculously into a Tejaswini (a recluse with no-identity), when she entered the sacred Himalayan region, in quest of ‘Truth sublime’ even as she was in her early forties. Living alone amidst the looming mountains of the sacred land, inside a small cottage made of stone and mud, helped by a few devoted youngsters, she went through a penance of knowledge for many years, till her quest was fulfilled by the grace of Shiva. As there was nothing more to be achieved on this planet than what state she was in, she just took to translating all the sacred books of India which were slowly turning into dust, due to the lack of proficiency in Sanskrit language that covered the modern minds. Kaadambaree is one such wonderful book, a gem extracted from under the dust. 2 महाक वबाणभणीता कादबर KAADAMBARI OF BAANABHATTA पवभागू : FIRST-HALF INTRODUCTION Kaadambari is the name of the main female character of the Sanskrit novel Kaadambari composed by BaanaBhatta who was the court poet of King HarshaVardhana. The word ‘Kaadambari’ means spirituous liquor distilled from the flowers of Kadamba tree. The word also is an epithet of Sarasvati, Goddess of learning. What can intoxicate more than Knowledge! Baana died before he completed this work and his son BhushanaBhatta took over the job of completing it. The novel abounds in figures of speech charming every lover of Sanskrit literature. Descriptions galore and lengthen each sentence to cover many pages. In the modern era we just have to use only the eyes for entering a story depicted in films. But Baana in his creations uses sounds to create the very same effect. As he recited the story aloud in a deep voice in the courtroom of the eminent king, the whole world changed into Kaadambari’s world. As each and every scene was described thoroughly, the story unfolded in the 3D stage of the mind. Nothing was left to the imagination of the listener. What was in the scene appeared as it was as if the listener was at the center of it all watching the events of the story, wonderstruck at the magic. The story itself is fascinating as it connects together many lives of many super human beings lost in love. No story like this has been ever written or will be written once again. It is an amazing plot. Forget the size of the book; stop bothering about grammar points; just slowly tread the path laid by Baana enjoying every new description unfolding at every step. Train the mind to imagine the scenes depicted by Baana rather than drown yourself in front of video boxes presenting meaningless mega serials. Imagination is a treasure only human minds have access to. Use it to the full extent and enjoy the amazing novel presented by one of the greatest composers of the past. Baana’s work has been translated in simple English here, trying utmost not to hamper the beauty of the language as presented by the author. Hope Kaadambari comes alive again in this century, charming many a heart! 3 ाथना PRAYER SALUTATION TO THE SUPREMACY रजोजषेु जम न स""वव"तयेृ ि&थतौ जानां लये तमः&पशेृ अजाय सगि&थ तनाशहेतवे -यीमयाय .-गणा"मनेु नमः ॥१॥ Salutation to that ‘Unborn one’; who is the cause of the creation, maintenance and destruction of the perceived world; who has three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) as his nature; who is the essence of three Vedas (Rk, Yajus, Saaman); who (as Brahma) is endowed with the quality of Rajas at the time of creating the world; who (as Vishnu) is endowed with the quality of Sattva at the time of maintaining the created world; who (as Shiva) is endowed with the quality of Tamas at the time of dissolution. 4 SALUTATION TO SHIVA’S LOTUS-FEET जयित बाणासरमौ1लला1लताु दशा&यचडाम4णच5चिबनःू ु सरासराधीश1शखातशाु ु यनो भवि8छद&:यबकपादपासवः ॥२॥ The dust-particles on the feet of Tryambaka (Shiva) win over everything in eminence- by getting cradled by the head of Baanaasura; getting kissed by the circle of the crowns of the ten-headed Raavana; and lying comfortably on the edge of the crest of the chiefs of gods and demons. (Baanaasura- Demon Baana Other meaning of Baanaasura- बाणाय असनू ्राित ( ददा त ) – those who gave life to Baana – Forefathers of Baana) (:यबक – -ी4ण अबका न य&य सः – Three eyed Divinity -याणाम ्( ?@म वAणBCाणांु ) अबकः ( पता ) [Rig-Veda]) 5 SALUTATION TO LORD VISHNU जय"यपेCःु स चकार दरतोू .ब1भ"सया यः DणलEधलFयया Gशैव कोपाBणया IरपोBरः &वयं भया Jन1मवाKपाटलम ्॥३॥ Upendra, the brother of Indra (Vaamana) desirous of shattering it, made the chest of his enemy break down by itself through fear and got it covered by blood red hue in the gap of a second, just by looking at him from far with eyes turning red in anger. (उपेC – Son of Kashyapa and Aditi/Younger brother of Indra/Vaamana the dwarf Avataar) (NaraSimha, another Avatar of Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu by tearing open his chest with his nails. But in poet’s imagination the chest broke by itself in fear when Vishnu glanced at the enemy for a fraction of second in anger, seated on his snake bed at Vaikunta. The redness that covered the demon’s chest is not blood but the redness of the anger proceeding from Vishnu’s eyes.) 6 SALUTATION TO GURU BHARVA नमा1म भवOPचरणाबजQवयंु सशेखरैमRखIर1भः कताचनमृ ् सम&तसामतSकरटवेTदका वटUकपीठोWलTठताBणाUग1लु ु ॥४॥ I salute the pair of lotus feet of Bharva which get worshipped by the Moukhari kings with crowns on their heads; which have their fingers turned red in hue by wallowing on the foot-stool, which is the platform made by the crowns of all the subordinate kings. WICKED MEN अकारणा वAकतवैरदाBणादसYजना"क&यृ भयं न जायते वषं महारेIरव य&य दवचःु सदःसहंु ु सं नTहतं सदा मखेु ॥५॥ Who does not get frightened by the wicked man who shows terrifying hatred for no reason; whose mouth always holds unbearably rude and hurting words like poison in the mouth of the great serpent?! कट ु [वणतो मलदायकाः खला&तद"यलंु बधनशUकलाृ इव मन&त ु साध]वु न1भः पदे पदे हरित सतो म4णनपराू ु इव ॥६॥ The wicked torment much like the binding iron chains tied around the limbs, with their harsh words hurling insults. The saints on the other hand steal the mind (make all happy) at every step like the melodiously jingling jewel-anklets. 7 WHO CAN APPRECIATE GOOD LITERATURE? सभा षतंु हाIर वश"यधो गलान दजन&याकIरपोIरवामतमु ृ ् तदेव ध"ते _दयेन सYजनो हIरमहार"न1मवा त नमलम ्॥७॥ ‘Good saying’ which pleases the mind does not enter the throat of the wicked, like the nectar down the neck of Sun’s enemy (Raahu). The noble man holds it in the heart like Vishnu wearing the excellent gem (Kaustubha) on his bosom. (Raahu has only a head; no neck or throat.) KAADAMBARI-A BEAUTIFUL STORY &फरु "त"कलालाप वलासकोमला करो त रागं _Tद कौतकाbधकमु ् रसेन शcयां &वयमdयपागताु कथा जन&या1भनवा वधIरवू ॥८॥ A story which abounds in sweet conversations, and pleasing to the heart, attracts and raises high the curiosity and excitement in the mind like the new bride who has willingly arrived at the bed full of passion and love (whispering sweet pleasing tender words and exciting the passion). 8 MY WORK IS A FLOWER GARLAND WOVEN WITH MANY FIGURES OF SPEECH हरित कं नोYYवलदपकोपमैनवैः पदाथfBपपाTदताः कथाः नरतरPलेषघनाः सजातयोु महाKजPचपककhमलैIरवु ॥९॥ Who will not be pleased by stories which are like huge garlands made of thickly woven (Shlesha) Chamapaka and Kudmala flowers of good quality (Sujaata) shining bright like lamps (Deepaka), composed with new types of themes and ideas? (उपमा - Figure of speech -Comparison Pलेष – Figure of speech – one word gives rise to two meanings दपक – Figure of speech- like a lamp throws light on many things जा त – Figure of speech – description according to nature or composed in Jaati metre) MY EMINENT FAMILY KUBERA बभवू वा"&यायनवंशसंभवो िQवजो जगQगीतगणोjणीःु सताम ् अनेकगkताbचतपादु पUकजः कबेरु नामांश इव &वयभवःु ॥१०॥ There lived a Brahmin named Kubera born as if he was made of a partial essence of Brahma (because of knowing the four Vedas); in the family of Vaatsyyayana; endowed with virtues extolled by the world; foremost among the noble; his feet worshipped by many Guptas. 9 उवास य&य m ु तशातकWमषे सदा परोडाशप व-ाधरेु सर&वती सोमकषा यतोदरे सम&तशा&-&म ृ तबधरमखेु ु ॥११॥ As his sins had perished by the study of Vedas; as his lips remained sacred by Purodaasha; as his belly had become red by consuming Soma; as his face was pleasant looking because of reciting all Scriptures and Smritis; Sarasvati herself lived there.