Bharavi
Encyclopedia
Bharavi ( 6th century CE) was a Sanskrit poet known for his Mahakavya (epic), the Kirātārjunīya
(Arjuna and the Mountain Man) in 18 cantos based on an episode from the Mahabharata
.
as famous poets of the past. In another inscription, the king Durvinita
of the Western Ganga Dynasty mentions having written a commentary on the fifteenth canto of Bharavi's Kirātārjunīya. The Western Ganga Dynasty ruled from about the middle of the fourth century, and Durvinita is usually believed to have lived in the later half of the sixth century.
The poet Daṇḍin
, who was born in the middle of the seventh century, reports that his great-grandfather was a friend of Bharavi and was introduced by him to a king Viṣṇuvardhana, before receiving patronage from Durvinita and King Simhavishnu
of the Pallava dynasty. This is unlikely to be Vishnuvardhana II
(673–682 CE) and is more likely to be Yasodharman Vishnuvardhana
, placing Bharavi's floruit in .
Bharavi probably belonged to Southern India.
"Bharavi" means "lustre of the sun". It is reported that his original name was Dāmodara, although this may have been an error.
, an epic poem in eighteen cantos, is his only known work. It "is regarded to be the most powerful poem in the Sanskrit language". A. K. Warder
considers it the "most perfect epic available to us", over Aśvaghoṣa
's Buddhacarita
, noting his greater force of expression, with more concentration and polish in every detail. Despite using extremely difficult language and rejoicing in the finer points of Sanskrit grammar
, he achieves conciseness and directness. His alliteration, "crisp texture of sound", and choice of metre
closely correspond to the narrative.
His poetry is characterised by its intricate styles and ethereal expressions. Like Kalidasa
for his similes (upamā) and Daṇḍin
for his wordplay (padalālityam), Bharavi is known for his "weight of meaning" (arthagauravam). He influenced the 8th century CE poet Magha
.
Kirātārjunīya
Kirātārjunīya is a Sanskrit kavya by Bhāravi, written in the 6th century or earlier. It is an epic poem in eighteen cantos describing the combat between Arjuna and lord Shiva in the guise of a kirāta or mountain-dwelling hunter. Along with the Naiṣadhacarita and the Shishupala Vadha, it is one of...
(Arjuna and the Mountain Man) in 18 cantos based on an episode from the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
.
Time and place
As with most Sanskrit poets, very few concrete details are available about Bharavi's life, and inferences must be made from references to him. A Chalukya inscription from 634 CE mentions him and KalidasaKalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
as famous poets of the past. In another inscription, the king Durvinita
Durvinita
Durvinita is seen as the most successful ruler of the Western Ganga Dynasty. Son of the previous ruler, Avinita, Durvinita's assession to the throne was disputed by his brother, who had gained the support of the Pallavas and Kadambas. There are Nallala and Kadagattur inscriptions that refer to...
of the Western Ganga Dynasty mentions having written a commentary on the fifteenth canto of Bharavi's Kirātārjunīya. The Western Ganga Dynasty ruled from about the middle of the fourth century, and Durvinita is usually believed to have lived in the later half of the sixth century.
The poet Daṇḍin
Dandin
Dandin can refer to:* Daṇḍin, 6th-7th century Sanskrit writer* The Dandin Group, a wireless internet thinktank* Dandin the Sword Carrier, a character appearing in Mariel of Redwall and The Bellmaker, two books from the fictional Redwall series by Brian Jacques....
, who was born in the middle of the seventh century, reports that his great-grandfather was a friend of Bharavi and was introduced by him to a king Viṣṇuvardhana, before receiving patronage from Durvinita and King Simhavishnu
Simhavishnu
Simhavishnu , also known as Avanisimha , son of Simhavarman III and one of the Pallava kings of India, was responsible for the revival of the Pallavan dynasty. He was the first Pallava monarch whose domain extended beyond Kanchipuram in the South...
of the Pallava dynasty. This is unlikely to be Vishnuvardhana II
Vishnuvardhana II
Vishnuvardhana II became the Eastern Chalukya king following the very short rule of his father Indra BhattarakaHis son Mangi Yuvaraja succeeded him.- References :...
(673–682 CE) and is more likely to be Yasodharman Vishnuvardhana
Yasodharman
Yasodharman or Yashôdharman was the king of Malwa, in central India, during the early part of the 6th century.- History :...
, placing Bharavi's floruit in .
Bharavi probably belonged to Southern India.
"Bharavi" means "lustre of the sun". It is reported that his original name was Dāmodara, although this may have been an error.
Work
The KirātārjunīyaKirātārjunīya
Kirātārjunīya is a Sanskrit kavya by Bhāravi, written in the 6th century or earlier. It is an epic poem in eighteen cantos describing the combat between Arjuna and lord Shiva in the guise of a kirāta or mountain-dwelling hunter. Along with the Naiṣadhacarita and the Shishupala Vadha, it is one of...
, an epic poem in eighteen cantos, is his only known work. It "is regarded to be the most powerful poem in the Sanskrit language". A. K. Warder
A. K. Warder
Anthony Kennedy Warder is a scholar of Indology, mostly in Buddhist studies and related fields, such as the Pāli and Sanskrit languages. He has written 15 books and numerous articles. He currently holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Sanskrit in the School of East Asian Studies in the...
considers it the "most perfect epic available to us", over Aśvaghoṣa
Asvaghosa
' was an Indian philosopher-poet, born in Saketa in northern India to a Brahmin family. He is believed to have been the first Sanskrit dramatist, and is considered the greatest Indian poet prior to Kālidāsa. He was the most famous in a group of Buddhist court writers, whose epics rivaled the...
's Buddhacarita
Buddhacarita
Buddhacharita is an epic poem in the Sanskrit mahakavya style on the life of Gautama Buddha by , composed in the 2nd century AD...
, noting his greater force of expression, with more concentration and polish in every detail. Despite using extremely difficult language and rejoicing in the finer points of Sanskrit grammar
Sanskrit grammar
The grammar of the Sanskrit language has a complex verbal system, rich nominal declension, and extensive use of compound nouns. It was studied and codified by Sanskrit grammarians from the later Vedic period , culminating in the Pāṇinian grammar of the 4th century BC.-Grammatical tradition:The...
, he achieves conciseness and directness. His alliteration, "crisp texture of sound", and choice of metre
Sanskrit metre
The verses of the Vedas have a variety of different meters. They are divided by number of padas in a verse, and by the number of syllables in a pada. Chandas , the study of Vedic meter, is one of the six Vedanga disciplines, or "organs of the vedas".*: 3 padas of 8 syllables-Principles:The main...
closely correspond to the narrative.
His poetry is characterised by its intricate styles and ethereal expressions. Like Kalidasa
Kalidasa
Kālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
for his similes (upamā) and Daṇḍin
Dandin
Dandin can refer to:* Daṇḍin, 6th-7th century Sanskrit writer* The Dandin Group, a wireless internet thinktank* Dandin the Sword Carrier, a character appearing in Mariel of Redwall and The Bellmaker, two books from the fictional Redwall series by Brian Jacques....
for his wordplay (padalālityam), Bharavi is known for his "weight of meaning" (arthagauravam). He influenced the 8th century CE poet Magha
Magha (poet)
Magha was a Sanskrit poet at King Varmalata's court at Srimala, the-then capital of Gujarat . Magha was son of Dattaka Sarvacharya and grandson of Suprabhadeva...
.