Ekavarnartha-samgraha of Bharatamallika
Summary
Sures Chandra Banerji draws attention to a little‑known Sanskrit work, the Ekavarṇārtha‑saṃgraha, attributed to Bharata or Bharatasena, popularly called Bharata Mallika of Bengal. Though Bengal has produced numerous Sanskrit scholars, many of their contributions remain obscure. Bharata Mallika is remembered primarily for his commentary Subodhinī on the Bhaṭṭikāvya, but Banerji lists at least fifteen other works attributed to him, including Upasarga‑vṛtti, Kalikollāsa, Gaṇapāṭha, Drutabodha‑vyākaraṇa and Sukha‑lekhanā. The Ekavarṇārtha‑saṃgraha is preserved in a single manuscript in the India Office, London. It comprises sixty‑one verses organised alphabetically by syllable, each verse giving several meanings associated with a single vowel or consonant. Such lexicons were rare in Sanskrit literature; Banerji notes that similar works, like the Ekāksarakośa attributed to Śabarasvāmin, are lost. The article reviews the manuscript, indicating that parts are corrupt or damaged. Banerji omits doubtful readings and suggests emendations where necessary. He prints the text with transliteration, providing a running commentary that explains how each syllable can denote multiple objects or concepts; for example, ‘ka’ may mean Brahman, water, a cuckoo or a hand. Banerji stresses that Bharata Mallika compiled only a small selection of possible meanings and presented them modestly. The work thus serves as both a mnemonic aid for poets and a lexicographical curiosity. Beyond the text, Banerji discusses the author’s background, observing that Bharata Mallika lived between the eleventh and twelfth centuries and was connected with the Sanskrit literary revival in Bengal under the Sena kings. He speculates that the Ekavarṇārtha‑saṃgraha may have been composed as an exercise in wit and learning rather than as a practical dictionary. The article concludes with a plea for scholars to explore neglected manuscripts in European collections to uncover more such works.
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Conclusion
Banerji’s edition of the Ekavarṇārtha‑saṃgraha introduces readers to an unusual lexicographical genre that assigns multiple meanings to single syllables. By identifying Bharata Mallika’s authorship and situating the work within the literary culture of medieval Bengal, the article highlights the richness of regional Sanskrit scholarship. The textual notes and emendations will aid future editors, while the commentary shows how seemingly whimsical lists of meanings can shed light on semantic associations in classical Sanskrit. The study underscores the importance of examining overlooked manuscripts to recover forgotten strands of India’s intellectual history.