Brihatkatha and Its Contributions

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About the Book Brhatkatha originally was written by Gunadya (1st C.B.C) in Paisachi language. Later on it was translated in Prakt. Both are lost. Its only available version probably written in 1st CAD and known since 4th 5th CAD is Brhatkatha Śloka Samgraha. This work has elaborately been studied in this volume with its contribution to Sanskrit literature.

The work narrates the adventures of many big traders (Written in story in story style), who scaled the mountains churned the ocean in search of wealth of gold, gems, pearls etc.

Narvahana Datta the son of Vatsaraja Udyana is the hero of the volume. His adventureous and romantic life (he married 26 times) is beautifully & entricately woven in this volume. The work ends with his marriage with Madaumaujuska (his love), the daughter of Kalingasena, a courtezan. The poet has evolved middle class society and lack the court and could not gain popularity perhaps scholistic protection accorded to religious writers. Instead it elaborates on the adventureous life of a comman man to a trader, to woman of low character i.e. a harlot and her importance in the society and the wealth spent upon her by the big traders.

As the writer has deviated from the popular themes of the life and stories of kings, queens & their courts and adopted a style of narrating the lives of common men & women it throws a flood of light on the religious, social and political life of the country. The present writer has sifted history of the period from these stray references in the volume.

The greatest contribution of Brhatkatha is Mrchchkatkam its plot, theme etc. all are borrowed by sudraka with a difference which tell about the time-gap & developments pertaing to social, relgious & political life of the country.

The prosperity of Bṛhat katha agrees with that of Gupta golden ages. A comparative study with Chaturbhan, a work of Gupta age has been done. etc.

About the Author Dr Sarla Khosla is internationally known scholar of Buddhism. She is credited for writing history Political Social & Religious) of the period under reference. She sifts material provided in the philosophical, critical, sativical & detective Sanskrt works. Her works include History of Buddhism Kashmir, Gupta Civilization, Asvaghosa & his times, the evolution of Buddha Legen, Lalitavistara, Buddha bhakti and Epithets, ksmendra and his times and various research articles including that of 'Buddhism in Ladakh The present work 'Brhatkatha and Its Contribution', not only highlights the social, religious and political history of the time, but also compares Brhatkatha sloka Samgraha of Buddhaswami (a Sanskṛt version of Gunadya's Brhatkatha) with. Sudraka's Mrchchkahkam and refers to Bhasa, Kalidasa & Bana etc. she has assigned date to Sudraka and Mṛchchkatikam utilising the material provided in the play.

The deteriorating trend of already corrupt and demoralised society of Brhatkatha's time to Mrchchkatikam's time is also illucidated.

How Buddhaswami has tried to raise the moral standard of the people (from trader to prostitute) is well explained & illustrated by Dr. Sarla Khosla, on the anatogy of Brhatkathas, Šudraka has also followed on the same lines. Both the heroes get married to harlots are (each) given the status of a wife. This great social change is beautifully narrated by both the authors & hence by the author of this work.

Preface The contribution of Brhatkatha of Gunadya, like epics, is great to Sanskrit literature. Bhasa, Sudroka, Kalidasa all have borrowed from this voluminous work. Elaborate study of all these, poets require another volume, which is beyond the scope of this work. I have only touched them at essential points and have elaborately worked on Sudraka's Mrchchkatikam.

Introduction Gunadya could save only 7,00,000 slokas, the rest were burnt by the author himself in frustration.'

It was first translated in Prakrit, which is not available. Its available Sanskrit version by Buddhaswami known as Brhatkatha-slokasamgraha is nearer to Brhatkatha than any other version of the existing works. The two other versions are by Kashmiri writers ksmendra and Somedeva i.e. ksmendra's Brhatkatha manjari and Somedeva's Brhatkatha Sagar.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages