हरिवंशपुराण
Summary
The text introduces Mahakavi Dhaval, an 11th-century poet born to a Brahmin family who embraced Jainism. His father was Sura and mother Kesulla. The author argues Dhaval is as significant as other Apabhramsha poets like Svayambhu, Pushpadanta, Dhanavala, and Vira. His only known work, the Harivamshapurana, is presented as an exemplary composition in the genre. The text provides translated excerpts from the beginning of this Purana to demonstrate the poet's clear and flowing language, natural use of ornaments, idioms, and proverbs. The work begins by comparing the Harivamsha to a lotus. The author notes linguistic parallels, such as comparing the phrase "juvvavaserana na vatthu chaijjahin" with a Rajasthani proverb, and "pisunachaaukka" with the Hindi term "chandal chaudari." The translation was inspired by Shri Gyanchandra Ji Khinduka and Dr. Kamalchandra Ji Sogani. The excerpts include invocations to the twenty-four Tirthankaras, including Vira, Ajita, Sambhava, Abhinandana, Sumatinatha, Padmaprabha, Suparshvanatha, Chandraprabha, Pushpadanta, Shitalanatha, Vasupujya, Vimalanatha, Anantanatha, Dharmanatha, Shantinatha, Kunthunatha, Mallinatha, Munisuvratanatha, Naminatha, Neminatha, Parshvanatha, and Vardhamana. The text also lists earlier poets and their works, including Dharasena, Devanandi, Vajrasuri, Mahasena, Ravishena, Jinasena, Jatila, Dinakarasena, Padmasena, Ambasena, Dhanadatta, Kumar, Vishnusena, Simhanandi, Naradeva, Siddhasena, Ramanandi, As
AI-assisted summary, not yet checked. Consult the original PDF before citing.
Conclusion
The document's implications center on the critical need to recognize and preserve the literary and philosophical contributions of the 11th-century Jain poet Dhaval, particularly his epic *Harivanshpurana*. The analysis reveals that Dhaval's work, composed in Apabhramsha, is of equal stature to other major poets of the tradition, yet remains understudied. The outcome of this study is a call to action for linguists, literary critics, and philosophers to engage with the original text, as the provided translations and comparisons with Rajasthani and Hindi idioms demonstrate the richness and natural flow of his language. The document suggests that deeper examination of Dhaval's use of metaphor, allegory, and moral instruction can yield valuable insights for Jain studies and broader Indian literary heritage, ultimately advocating for a more prominent place for this neglected masterpiece in academic discourse.