Srikrsnacaritam with Sanskrit Version of K.P. Narayana Pisharoti (Text with Introduction & English Translation-Volume-2)

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Srikrsnacaritam is an epic poem of the Mahakavya type in Ardhasamskrita composed be one of the greatest poets of Kerala known as Kunjan Nambiar who flourished in the middle of the 18th century. It deals with Krsnavatara in twelve cantos ending with the story of Sudama and Santanogopalam. A few cantos of the poem used to be a part of the curriculum of the primary classes right upto the middle of the present century. The award winning Sanskrit version of the poem is being published here side by side with the English translation and it is hoped that this will help in making this great treasure of Kerala's literature popular within and outside the country. Those who are interested in linguistics will find it useful in understanding the influence of Sanskrit on Malayalam literature since the Ardhasamskrta version is given as an appendix.

Dr. K.P.A. Menon, B.Sc., M.A, LL.B, Ph.D. Chancellor of the Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, New Delhi is an eminent scholar, scientist and administrator who has held many important assignments in the government including the post of Defence Secretary to the Govt. of India. Epic poetry and dramas have been his special field of interest and he is also trying to unearth the vast treasures contained in Sanskrit literature in diverse fields like agriculture, science and technology, polity etc: He is the recipient of a large number of national and international awards including the Honorary Fellowship of Biographical Academy of the Commonwealth & International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, Distinguished Leadership Award of the American Biographical Institute, Albert Einstein Memorial Medal, the Sahityanikasa and the Kalidasa Awards for his Sanskrit writings.

"Srikrsnacaritam Mahakavyam" ascribed to the famous poet of Malayalam language, Kunjan Nambiar has got a unique place among the Manipravala kavyas. In fact there was time when the expression a Manipravala itself was used as synonymous to this composition to the exclusion of any other, unless qualified otherwise. This may look surprising since Srikrsnacaritam Manipravalam is not the earliest among the poems of that genre, nor can it be considered as the finest among the Manipravala kavyas. Children in large numbers used to study a few cantos of this Mahakavya, Manipravalam as they would call it without even knowing the title of Srikrsnacaritam. In the Akaarasloka competitions at the school level they used to draw upon this vast treasure, getting slokas by heart in dozens, alphabetwise. One might wonder how such a situation came to prevail.

**Contents and Sample Pages**