Raghavendra G S is a keen student of classical literature in Sanskrit and Kannada. He is one of the contributing editors of Prekshaa.
We move on to the next work, Hāsya-cūḍā-maṇi Introduction Hāsya-cūḍā-maṇi is a śuddha-prahasana consisting of two acts. In general prahasanas rarely go b...
Veturi Prabhakara Sastri mentions that the bharatavākya is found only in one of the manuscripts All other editions say that there is no bharatavākya. The bharat...
Śāṇḍilya who had cried hoarse seeing Vasantasenā body isn’t so sad seeing his preceptor dead, he calls him vācāla - which positively means a great orator but al...
We quote the translation of the verse uttered by Yamapuruṣa as rendered by Lockwood and Bhat to further the discussion. श्यामां प्रसन्नवदनां मधुरप्रला...
A discussion about scriptural authority follows. Finally the fundamental question of the utility of learning itself comes up. Parivrājaka patiently explains eve...
Lockwood and Bhat in their introduction (page 10) use this conversation where Parivrājaka punishes Śāṇḍilya as an example to prove that Parivrājaka himself isn’...
While Parivrājaka seems to be miffed, he is also compassionate enough to reconcile that Śāṇḍilya being in this ephemeral world is bound to be behave that way! T...
Though instantly smitten, Śāṇḍilya realises he needs to be rich once he comes to know that she is a courtesan! Meanwhile the Yamapuruṣa, invisible to everyone,...
We move on to the next prahasana, Bhagavad-ajjukam. Bhagavad-ajjukam Bhagavad-ajjukam as mentioned before is a śuddha-prahasana, like Mattavilāsa is one among...
Unmattaka is redirected to give the bowl to someone worthy. While this brings in the lofty principle of charity which says to give anything only to a worthy per...
While ‘kapālin’ is taken in literal sense before the word Pāṇigrahaṇa which literally just means holding hands is turned to the other meaning, taking one’s hand...
After gaining some composure he decides that bowl should have been taken by either a dog or a buddhist monk. While the comparison of a buddhist monk to a dog mi...
When Devasomā interrupts to say this isn’t the way of buddhists or jains (अर्हन्त can apply to both), Satyasoma scolds them saying that they are fools who contr...
Languages and meters While nothing of value is added by mentioning what has been discussed by both Dr N P Unni and Dr S Ramaratnam, just for the sake of comple...
The author Unlike many other Sanskrit works which either keeps us in the dark about the authorship or it's time period, these pesky questions about Matta-vilās...
The Mahābhārata is no different though the episodes related to Hāsya are few and far. Bhima’s childhood antics are sure to invoke some laughs, so does Uttarakum...
Introduction Prahasana as a genre has a unique place not just in Sanskrit drama but even in all of classical Sanskrit literature. Prahasana is one among the te...
The dialogue between Yājñavalkya and Maitreyī (bṛhadāraṇyaka) continued “Maitreyī, The husband doesn’t become your beloved because he is the husband, but...
The victory of Yājñavalkya (bṛhadāraṇyaka) continued Then Uddālaka joined the debate, “Yājñavalkya, I know the sūtra, which encompasses, the here and thereafte...
The story of Śvetaketu and Pravāhaṇarāja (chāndogya) continued The king was sad to know this. “Such a thing can be imparted only to a worthy śiṣya who has prov...
The superiority of Prāṇa (Chāndogya) continued The mouth (tongue) came forward, “Let me go away for a year. Then you’ll all know my value.” saying so it went a...
Upakosala (Chāndogya) continued After three agnis instructed Upakosala, one amongst them, Gārhapatyāgni said, “Upakosala, I’ve four bodies, Pṛthvī, Agni,...
Satyakāma jābāla (Chāndogya) continued The night was over. Satyakāma finished his morning routine and started his journey back to the gurukula with the herd of...
Satyakāma jābāla (Chāndogya) In the past, education would mean learning the vedas and allied branches like vyākaraṇa (grammar). The student had to leave...
Jānaśruti (Chāndogya) Once there lived a noble king called Jānaśruti. His practices were rooted in dharma and always involved in dāna. He had arranged da...
Uṣasti (Chāndogya) Once the kingdom of Kuru was struck by famine. All the crops were laid waste by hailstones. In an abject village in that kingdom calle...
Whatever comes next is the crux of the kaṭhopaniṣat. This is where Naciketas asked Yama to answer his question. His question surprised Yama. Not willing to answ...
Naciketas (from kaṭhopaniṣat) Naciketas was the son of the ṛṣi Vājaśravas who belong to the Gautama gotra. Though a child, he was scholarly; contemplative. His...
The victory of the Devas (from Kenopaniṣat) The Paramātman is the creator and sustainer of the world, omniscient, omnipotent. The main aim of our lives should...
Prologue The upaniṣads occur at the end of each of the vedas. Hence they are known as the vedānta. Or they are the conclusion or the ultimate truth. It is firm...
265. Sopānārohaṇa-nyāya Climb the stairs one by one to reach the top. It's impossible to jump from one floor to the next. It is dangerous too. Likewise any acc...
257. Simhāvalokana-nyāya A lion would pause for a while when going around, observing what is happening on its rear and then proceed further. That is its nature...
248. Śvaśrūnirgacchokti-nyāya The mother-in-law is the one at the helm is the import. A beggar doing his daily round of begging came to a house. The daughter-i...
238. Śākhācandra-nyāya The moon is shown to the kids by pointing it out amidst some branches. If the kid sees through the gaps in between the branches he sees...
230. Vṛddhakumārīvākya-nyāya An old unmarried woman is called vṛddhakumārī. In the treatise, mahābhāṣya we find this nyāya described. Devendra, the king of dei...
217. Rāsabharaṭita-nyāya Rāsabharaṭita means the braying of the donkey. The donkey starts on a high decibel. But it keeps diminishing. On the surface if...
207. Yat karabhasya pṛṣṭhe na māti tat kaṇṭhe nibadhyate The master fastens an unbearable load around the camel’s neck! Camels are known to bear huge loads. Wh...
193. Mallagrāma-nyāya A village where wrestling is the main vocation is called mallagrāma. Malla means wrestler. Since the majority of the population consists...
185. Bhṛṅgakīṭa-nyāya Bhṛṅga means the fly/bee. It is also called bhramara. It builds a nest out of mud. It brings in other insects and uses them. The bhṛṅga g...
178. Bhakṣite'pi laśune na śānto vyādhiḥ ‘Even after eating garlic the disease remained.’ Garlic is forbidden as per the śāstras. Notwithstanding that, it also...
169. Bakabandhana-nyāya Capturing the crane. Someone asked the strategy to capture a crane. The strategist suggests the following: “Keep a lump of butter on th...
157. Piśācanāṃ piśācabhāṣayaivottaraṃ deyam To make the piśācas understand, we should converse in their own language (piśācabhāṣā). They wouldn’t understand Ka...
147. Paṅkaprakṣālana-nyāya Paṅka means marshy waters, prakṣālana means to cleanse. Why would one put their hands in the marsh and then cleanse it? It is better...
138. Na hi svato'satī śaktiḥ kartumanyena śakyate It is impossible to impart some power which we don’t have in the first place. Milk has the inherent capacity...
130. Na hi bhikṣuko bhikṣukāntaraṃ yācitumarhati satyanyasminnabhikṣuke When there is someone who isn’t a beggar in the vicinity one beggar shouldn’t beg from...
123. Naṭasāmājika-nyāya An actor portrays many characters on stage, may it be Rāma or Bhīma. He provides the connoisseurs a feast of rasa by showing the sorrow...
115. Dīrghaśaṣkulībhakṣaṇa-nyāya When eating large/long śaṣkulīs i.e. chakli all the five sense organs feel happy! Since they are large, let's assume that we h...
107. Tuṣyatu durjana-nyāya “Let the wicked be happy” is the import of this nyāya. When the point raised by an opponent is impertinent, the debater agrees to it...
97. Takrakauṇḍinya-nyāya Takra means buttermilk, the householder instructs the cook: "Serve curds to the brāhmaṇas; serve buttermilk to Kauṇḍinya!" Kauṇḍinya t...
88. Caurāparādhānmāṇḍavyanigraha-nyāya Māṇḍavya was punished for the crime committed by the thieves. The story of Māṇḍavya comes in the Ādi-parva of Mahābhārat...
79. Ghaṭīyantra-nyāya For irrigating the fields in the villages there will be a contraption with a wheel fitted to the wells called ghatīyantra. Some of the cu...
72. Gaṇḍasyopari piṭakaḥ samvṛttaḥ A boil on a tumor. When there is no end for trouble this nyāya is used. There is a proverb in kannada which roughly translat...
60. Kulyāpraṇayana-nyāya Kulyā means a channel. People dig up channels so that the water can be transferred to the fields to irrigate the crops. The main purpo...
46. Kadambakoraka-nyāya The buds of Kadamba trees are the topic of this nyāya. These buds bloom simultaneously. If one blooms it's a given that all will...
32.Ākāśamuṣṭihanana-nyāya Punching the sky! Spending effort on futile things! Punching the sky would just lead to exhaustion but won’t hurt the sky in any mann...
25. Antardīpikā-nyāya This nyāya is concerned with the lamp in a house. In the light of the same lamp, someone reads, someone writes, some others do other work...
17. Asañjātavirodha-nyāya Interpretation should happen in such a way that there is no room for inconsistencies. Even in treatises which are honest there might...
9. Ardhajaratīya-nyāya Scholars are especially fond of using this nyāya. But there is some debate regarding the import of this nyāya. There are no significant...
Nyāyas 1.Agniśikhā-nyāya The flames of fire always go up. With the breeze it might tilt slightly but still goes upwards. Whether someone is good or bad, if he...
Preface We come to know the expanse and depth of an ocean only when we see it through our own eyes. The same holds true for Sanskrit literature, one would know...
The war ended. Laṅkā was captured. Hanumān conveyed the news of Śrīrāma’s victory to devī Sītā. Was there any limits to her joy? “Soumya! Nothing in this world...
Even the strongest of the rākṣasas couldn’t stand before him as his breath itself felt like a tornado. They tied their waists and exerted themselves for the cau...
In Madhuvana All the vānaras were eager to narrate the events to Sugrīva. They found the Madhuvana on the way. They were all enticed to drink the Madhu. After...
Good luck to Bharata Bharata has started his journey towards Citrakūṭa along with his army. His aim is to bring Śrī-rāma back. On the way they see the maharṣi...
Ayomukhī Ayomukhī is another Śūrpaṇakhā when it comes to her conduct. While her story is a minor one, it makes one aware of how many such shameless rākṣasa wom...
The punishment for a lustful woman The pot bellied woman took Lakṣmaṇa’s words as the ultimate truth. Unaware of the humour she again goes back to Śrī-rāma. Sh...
He is described as ‘smitapūrvābhibhāṣī’, someone who always has a smile before he talks. There are many instances which proves that he had a great sense of humo...
The avarice of the brāhmaṇas It seems as though when Brahma created the brāhmaṇas he also gave them the gift of poverty! We have heard a number of stories whic...
The humour in Śrīmad-rāmāyaṇam has always appeared in the most appropriate places. Humour always demands an awareness of the world around us. Only someone who c...
There is a uniqueness in hāsya as opposed to the other rasas. It is enjoyed by one and all. This rasa has the power of entertaining everyone from small kids to...
Vālmīki also finds mention in the Śrīman-mahābhāratam too. In the sabhā-parva (7.19, *7.14 in critical text) Vālmīki’s presence in the court of Indra is mention...
कूजन्तं राम रामेति मधुरं मधुराक्षरम् । आरुह्य कविता-शाखां वन्दे वाल्मीकि-कोकिलम् ॥ [Continuously singing the sweet syllables rāma, perched upon the bra...
Discord Once again rumours flew thick and fast about Mirza Ismail when the Crown Prince died in Bombay (11 March 1940). Some people spread rumours that Mirza h...
Wise Counsel Mirza Ismail was courageous in providing counsel to the British government. In the course of his speeches at the Representative Assembly or the Le...
Not Bookish Scholarship Mirza didn’t think of himself as an erudite scholar in polity. He was not too interested in the science of politics nor just theory. Wh...
Industries Mirza Ismail opined that in every town or Hobli, a factory, a trading unit, or some other business should be established. He encouraged prominent pe...
Vidurāśvattha Riots The agitation for a Responsible Government led to yet another riot, this time at Vidurāśvattha. This incident too led to firings and killin...
Sultanpet Riots The second disturbance that occurred during Mirza’s reign as Dewan was related to the unfortunate event that occured on Arcot Srinivasacharlu S...
Huzūr Secretary The Mahārāja didn’t find any use for the European secretary. But someone nominated by the British government was not to be left out. The Mahārā...
Sir Mirza Muhammad Ismail Saheb’s ancestors hailed from Persia. Persia is known as the land of famous poets like Firdausi [Abul-Qāsem Ferdowsi Tusi], Hafiz [Khw...
Kāleju Baravaṇigè (‘College Writings’) Rajarathnam gave ample opportunities to his students to showcase their talents through publications like Namma Bendre, N...
Recognition of Self Understanding and responding to the tender minds of children needs a kind of dissolution of Self. It needs an assessment of our self from a...
Ratnana Padagaḻu(‘The Sayings of Ratna’) The literary work that firmly placed Rajarathnam in the hearts of the people of Karnataka is Ratnana Padagaḻu, which w...
ಮೆಯ್ ದೃಢ, ಮನಸ್ಸು ದೃಢ, ದುಡಿವೆನೆಂಬ ನಿಶ್ಚಯ ಇವಕೆ ಸಮನಾಗಿ ದೃಢವಾಗಿರುತ ನಮ್ಮ ರಾಜಣ್ಣ ಬರೆದಿರುವ ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಅವೆಷ್ಟೊ! ಅವುಗಳ ಜಾತಿ ಇನ್ನೆಷ್ಟೊ! [Firm body, firm mind...
A Judgement One more instance to exemplify Shastri’s verbal prowess. In a village near Bangalore, K— had taken some money as a loan from R— saying that he wou...
Meeting with Arcot Ramaswamy Mudaliar We have already seen how Shastri was instrumental in the establishment of a responsible government and during the agitati...
It’s the irony of fate that on the exact day India achieved political independence—15th August 1947—Sitarama Shastri lost sight in his good eye and therefore be...
Problems escalated when the leaders of the workers were fired on flimsy reasons. The cases went to the high court, the leaders requested Shastri to be a witness...
Legislative Assembly Sitarama Shastri was a nominated member of the legislative assembly for a few years. He utilised that platform effectively to facilitate p...
The debate took place in Sanskrit. Shastri’s argument was as follows – In the Vedic tradition, marriage is an instrument for dharma not enjoyment; so to facili...
The Case The government filed a case against Sitarama Shastri and Ashvatthanarayana Rao, accusing the article published in Navajīvana to be treasonous. Shastr...
Journalist Right from his childhood days, Sitarama Shastri was interested in writing. Observing this, Krishna Shastri sent him to M Venkatakrishnayya in Mysore...
Childhood and Education During his childhood he lost eyesight in one of his eyes while playing gilli-daṇḍa[1]. By 1947 he lost eyesight in the other eye too. T...
Political acumen, rights and duties of the citizens, answerability of the government, the role of newspapers in protecting the welfare of the people – these thi...
My maternal grandmother Sakamma lived a long and healthy life. Cooking was an integral part of her daily routine. She was also responsible for the safekeeping a...
My studies in Mysore spanned only seven-eight months. That year (1901) was quite unfortunate for my family. My grandfather had passed away in the year 1900 itse...
Here is a verse composed by Naraṣiñyācārya, dedicated towards his teacher. ಗೋಪೀನಾಥಗುರಂ ವಂದೇ ಗೋಪೀಚಂದನಧಾರಿಣಮ್ | ಅಂಗಾರತುಳಸೀಯುಕ್ತಂ ಆರ್ದ್ರಚಿಕ್ಕಪಟಾನ್ವಿತಮ್ |...
Sixty-seventy years ago, the erudite scholars of the era were blessed with an abundant vocabulary. Unfortunately, the themes on which this prowess was to be app...
The revered Sheshappa and Subba Rao Both Shri. Sheshappa and Shri. Subba Rao are older than me by a good number of years. Subba Rao also taught me during me sc...
Subbanna the Musician Shri. Subbanna was the music teacher in the girls’ school. During those days, teachers were familiar with a bit of poetry. They were trai...
Here poetry isn’t the proverbial tough nut to crack. One need not raise their eyebrows remembering illustrious poets like Pampa, Ranna, Ṣaḍakṣarī, Harihara, Rud...
In the present context, it would not be incorrect to say that the various expositions on sāmānya-dharma in the myriad smṛti texts have its origin in the concept...
Kalpa is one of the six Vedāṅgas (limbs of the Vedas).[1] The traditional view is that without the help of these Vedāṅgas, the real meaning of the Veda cannot b...
We know that in December 1919, the Mysore People’s Convention, a citizens’ initiative, met in Bangalore. Among the members who came to attend the meeting, aroun...
Viśvanātha who wrote Sāhityadarpaṇa starts off by criticizing the attributes of poetry as described by Mammaṭa and others, and ridicules the suggestion that com...
Moving on to one of the greatest masters of all schools of thought and a very creative and gifted genius Abhinavagupta, we see humour sparkling aptly in both hi...
जगत्सन्दर्भसौन्दर्यसंवित्संस्पन्दसाक्षिणम्। प्रणमामि सितस्मेरप्रणवं गणनायकम् ॥ Humour is a divine gift to humans. While experiencing humour is wonderful, analyz...
In recent years, antyākṣarī programs in various forms, have been entertaining people. The Vividhabhāratī channel of Ākāśavāṇī (All India Radio) perhaps set the...