Keshavdas
Encyclopedia
Keshavdas (Hindi
:केशवदास) (1555–1617) was a Sanskrit
scholar and Hindi poet, best known for his Rasik Priya, a pioneering work of the riti kaal (procedure period) of Hindi literature
.
in a Sanadhya Brahmin family. His father Kashinath and the elder brother Balabhadra Mishra were both Sanskrit scholars. Initially he was in the court of Indrajit Singh, the brother of the Bundela
ruler Ram Singh. In 1608, when Vir Singh Dev Bundela came to power, Keshav Das joined his court. He was granted a jaageer of 21 villages.
in 30 sections. His other works include Rakhshikh (1600), Chhandamala (1602), Virsinghdev Charit (1607), Vijnangita (1610) and Jahangirjas Chandrika (1612). He wrote in Brij Bhasha
, though with a heavy mixture of Bundelkhandi dialect.
Khushwant Singh
describes one of his verses thus:
He used the Bundelkhandi dialect in his poetry. He excelled in Shringara Rasa:
Some of the manuscripts of Rasika Priya are famous for their illustrations.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
:केशवदास) (1555–1617) was a Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
scholar and Hindi poet, best known for his Rasik Priya, a pioneering work of the riti kaal (procedure period) of Hindi literature
Hindi literature
Hindi literature , is broadly divided into four prominent forms or styles, being Bhakti ; Shringar ; Veer-Gatha ; and Adhunik...
.
Life
He was born in OrchhaOrchha
Orchha is a town in Tikamgarh district of Madhya Pradesh state, India. The town was established by Maharaja Rudra Pratap Singh in 1501, as the seat of an eponymous former princely state of central India, in the Bundelkhand region. Orchha lies on the Betwa River , 80 km from Tikamgarh &...
in a Sanadhya Brahmin family. His father Kashinath and the elder brother Balabhadra Mishra were both Sanskrit scholars. Initially he was in the court of Indrajit Singh, the brother of the Bundela
Bundela
The Bundelas are a Rajput clan of Chattari lineage who ruled several states in central India, in Bundelkhand region from the 16th century.The Bundelas are the most prominent Rajputs hailing from Central India...
ruler Ram Singh. In 1608, when Vir Singh Dev Bundela came to power, Keshav Das joined his court. He was granted a jaageer of 21 villages.
Major works
His first work is Ratan Bavani (ca. 1581). Three anthology of poems are attributed to him, Rasikpriya (1591), Ramchandrika (1600), and Kavipriya (1601). The Ramchandrika is an abridged translation of the RamayanaRamayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
in 30 sections. His other works include Rakhshikh (1600), Chhandamala (1602), Virsinghdev Charit (1607), Vijnangita (1610) and Jahangirjas Chandrika (1612). He wrote in Brij Bhasha
Brij Bhasha
Braj Bhasha , also called Brij Bhasha , Braj Bhakha , or Dehaati Zabaan , is a Central Indian language closely related to Hindi...
, though with a heavy mixture of Bundelkhandi dialect.
Rasikpriya
He praised the Betwa and Orchha as the most beautiful things on earth. More so because it was he, Keshav Das, who had made them famous. Greyed by years he rued the day when pretty girls he eyed on the Betwa addressed him as Baba—old man.- केशव केशन अस करी जस अरिहूं न कराहिं,
- चंद्रवदन मृगलोचनी ‘बाबा’कहि-कहि जाहिं.
- Keshav Kesni asi karee, Asi Ari hu na karay
- Chandra Badan, mriglochani, Baba kahi rahi jaaye
Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh
Khushwant Singh is a prominent Indian novelist and journalist. Singh's weekly column, "With Malice towards One and All", carried by several Indian newspapers, is among the most widely-read columns in the country....
describes one of his verses thus:
- Instead I read a long note prepared by Pukhraj Maroo, erudite Commissioner of Sagar, on poet Keshav Das (b. 1546 A.D.) who immortalised the Betwa. His father was tutor (Rajguru) of the rulers of Orchha. In his turn Keshav Das became the Rajguru among his students was the courtesan dancer Rai Praveen.
He used the Bundelkhandi dialect in his poetry. He excelled in Shringara Rasa:
- 'केसव' चौंकति सी चितवै, छिति पाँ धरके तरकै तकि छाँहि।
- बूझिये और कहै मुख और, सु और की और भई छिन माहिं॥
- डीठी लगी किधौं बाई लगी, मन भूलि पर्यो कै कर्यो कछु काहीं।
- घूँघट की, घट की, पट की, हरि आजु कछु सुधि राधिकै नाहीं॥
Some of the manuscripts of Rasika Priya are famous for their illustrations.
Virsinghdev Charit
Virsinghdev Charit was a biography of the Bundela king, Vir Singh Dev Bundela.External links
- Keshavdas at Kavita Kosh (Hindi)