A Note on the Avantisundari Katha in relation to Bharavi and Dandin
Summary
The article re-examines the relationship between Bharavi and Dandin, focusing on the *Avantisundari-katha* and its metrical summary, the *Avantisundari-kathi-sara*. The author critiques Ramakrishna Kavi’s conclusion that Bharavi and Dandin were related, arguing that the sole verse mentioning Bharavi in the *kathi-sara* is unreliable due to textual inconsistencies and late origins. G. Harihara Sastri’s analysis of a Trivandrum manuscript clarifies the verse’s context, suggesting Bharavi was a Saivite poet attached to Prince Vispuvardhana, while Dimodara (likely a separate individual) secured the prince’s friendship. The article dates Bharavi to the late 6th or early 7th century, aligning him with contemporary rulers, and posits Dandin as a later figure (late 7th/early 8th century), dismissing Kavi’s claim of a direct lineage. It also questions whether the Dandin linked to the *Avantisundari-katha* is the same as the author of the *Dasa-kumara-carita*, noting stylistic and structural differences between the *Purva-pithika* (Prelude) and Dandin’s main text. The *Purva-pithika*’s divergent narrative style, absence of traditional openings, and early quotations suggest it may not be Dandin’s work. The article concludes that the connection between Bharavi and Dandin remains unproven, emphasizing the need for caution in interpreting fragmentary and late sources.
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Conclusion
This analysis significantly advances the understanding of the Avantisundari-katha's authorship and historical context by critically examining the problematic verse in the Katha-sara and corroborating evidence from an alternate manuscript. The findings challenge Ramakrishna Kavi's conjecture linking Bharavi and Dandin, demonstrating the verse's unreliability due to textual inconsistencies and late composition. The discovery of parallel passages in the Trivandrum manuscript further clarifies Bharavi's identity as a Saivite poet attached to Prince Vispuvardhana, contextualizing him within early 7th-century South India. While confirming Dandin's probable role as the prose Katha's narrator, the analysis underscores the tenuousness of connecting him to the Data-bumiira-carifa's author, emphasizing the need for cautious historical reconstruction in absence of definitive evidence. These conclusions refine scholarly approaches to dating and attributing Sanskrit literary works, highlighting the risks of overreliance on secondary summaries.