Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana

by Gaurapada Dāsa | 2015 | 234,703 words

Baladeva Vidyabhusana’s Sahitya-kaumudi covers all aspects of poetical theory except the topic of dramaturgy. All the definitions of poetical concepts are taken from Mammata’s Kavya-prakasha, the most authoritative work on Sanskrit poetical rhetoric. Baladeva Vidyabhushana added the eleventh chapter, where he expounds additional ornaments from Visv...

क्रमेणोदाहरणम्,

krameṇodāharaṇam,

Examples are given in order (this shows a combination of good things):

premā pramāṇa-rahito’nupamā guṇa-śrīḥ
  saundarya-sampad asamā ruciraṃ ca śīlam
|
tāruṇyam adbhutatamaṃ sakhi rādhikāyāḥ
  kṛṣṇaḥ kathaṃ na bhavitā vaśa-go guṇa-jñaḥ
||

premā—the love; pramāṇa-rahitaḥ—devoid of a measure; anupamā—without a comparison; guṇa-śrīḥ—the resplendence of qualities; saundarya-sampat—the affluence of beauty; asamā—unequalled; ruciram—beautiful; ca—morever; śīlam—the nature; tāruṇyam—youthful; adbhutatamam—mist amazing; sakhi—O confidante; rādhikāyāḥ—of Rādhikā; kṛṣṇaḥKṛṣṇa; katham—how?; na—not; bhavitā—become; vaśa-gaḥ—under the control; guṇa-jñaḥ—He knows qualities.

Sakhī, Kṛṣṇa knows how to appreciate qualities. Her love is unconditional; the resplendence of Her qualities is incomparable; Her affluence of beauty is unequalled; and Her nature is charming, youthful, and most amazing. How can He not become subjugated by Rādhikā? (Govinda-līlāmṛta 11.120)

atra premaiva tādṛśaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ vaśīkaroti tathāpi tad-upari guṇa-śrī-prabhṛtir upāttaḥ.

Only unconditional love makes a woman have sway over Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, other reasons, beginning from the resplendence of qualities, are mentioned in addition to that.

Commentary:

This is an example by Paṇḍita-rāja Jagannātha:

samutpattiḥ padmā-ramaṇa-pada-padmāmala-nakhān
  nivāsaḥ kandarpa-pratibhaṭa-jaṭā-jūṭa-bhavane
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athāyaṃ vyāsaṅgaḥ patita-jana-nistāraṇa-vidher
  na kasmād utkarṣas tava janani jāgarti jagataḥ
||

“You originate from the pure nails of Viṣṇu’s lotus-like feet and you dwelt on Śiva’s matted locks, not to mention this dedication to saving fallen people. O mother Ganges, your eminence might be lesser than what worldly thing?” (Rasa-gaṅgādhara, KM p. 491)

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