courtesy : Sri.PK.Ramakrishnan
=========================
In my younger days I had come across a book called Bhojacharitam in
> Sanskrit. Bhoja the king was
> a patron of Sanskrit learning. Kalidasa is mentioned as his contemperory
> and adored his vidvatsabha.
> For any new creation of poetry Bhoja used to give a prize equivalent to one
> lakh per letter or akshara-
> laksham.
>
> Two Brahmins wanted to try their luck. They assembled in front of a temple
> and started composing.
>
> The first Brahmin said - bhojanam dehi raajendra - भोजनं देहि राजेन्द्र
>
> The other Brahmin said - ghrita-suupa-samanvitam - घृतसूपसमन्वितं /
>
>
> They together went on memorizing this. They could not compose two more
> lines to make the full sloka.
>
> At this point of time, Kalidasa happened to come to the temple. Seeing the
> Brahmins's predicament,
> he told them the next two lines - maahisham cha
> saratchandra-chandrikaa-dhavalam dadhi -
>
> माहिषं च शरच्चन्द्र-
> चन्द्रिकाधवलं दधि //
>
> The Brahmins by hearted these two lines also and went to Bhojaraja's
> assembly.
>
> There they repeated the entire sloka.
>
> The meaning of the full sloka is this- Oh Rajendra! Give me food with Ghee
> and Paruppu. Also buffalo curd which as white as the moonlight of sarad
> season.
>
> Bhoja offered them prize only for the first two lines, saying that the
> other half could have been composed
> by Kalidasa alone, since it contains an upama. And Kalidasa was noted for
> Upama (simile).
> UpamaKalidasasya.
>
> -----------------------------------
knr
=========================
In my younger days I had come across a book called Bhojacharitam in
> Sanskrit. Bhoja the king was
> a patron of Sanskrit learning. Kalidasa is mentioned as his contemperory
> and adored his vidvatsabha.
> For any new creation of poetry Bhoja used to give a prize equivalent to one
> lakh per letter or akshara-
> laksham.
>
> Two Brahmins wanted to try their luck. They assembled in front of a temple
> and started composing.
>
> The first Brahmin said - bhojanam dehi raajendra - भोजनं देहि राजेन्द्र
>
> The other Brahmin said - ghrita-suupa-samanvitam - घृतसूपसमन्वितं /
>
>
> They together went on memorizing this. They could not compose two more
> lines to make the full sloka.
>
> At this point of time, Kalidasa happened to come to the temple. Seeing the
> Brahmins's predicament,
> he told them the next two lines - maahisham cha
> saratchandra-chandrikaa-dhavalam dadhi -
>
> माहिषं च शरच्चन्द्र-
> चन्द्रिकाधवलं दधि //
>
> The Brahmins by hearted these two lines also and went to Bhojaraja's
> assembly.
>
> There they repeated the entire sloka.
>
> The meaning of the full sloka is this- Oh Rajendra! Give me food with Ghee
> and Paruppu. Also buffalo curd which as white as the moonlight of sarad
> season.
>
> Bhoja offered them prize only for the first two lines, saying that the
> other half could have been composed
> by Kalidasa alone, since it contains an upama. And Kalidasa was noted for
> Upama (simile).
> UpamaKalidasasya.
>
> -----------------------------------
knr
Yes I've heard this story too, thanks for posting. The first two lines are bereft of any poetic values, they are mundane. The last lines elevate the dull verse into the realm of beautiful poetry.
ReplyDeleteI have heard it as kaumudhi dhadhi. Kaumudhi means moonlight
ReplyDelete