This handy book of Bhartrihari's Niti Shatakam, being published by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, is prepared by Shri Ravi Shanker. He has given the original Sanskrit verse, its transliteration in English and his fresh English translation.
Those who have any acquaintance however small with Sanskrit language and literature are bound to know the name of Bhartrihari and some quotations from any of his-three shatakas Niti Shataka, Vairagya Shataka and Shringara Shataka. These three are centuries of verses and they are popular not only in India but they have gone beyond India's limits and have become part of world literature. They are written in sweet delectable language each verse is complete in itself and even learned authors in Sanskrit find delight in quoting a verse or a part of it when an occasion arises. Except Kalidasa, there is perhaps no author in Sanskrit who is felt so familiar and homely. There are manuscripts of his Shatakas found all over India and many editions with the text and commentaries have been published so far.
The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has published the edition of the three Shatakas of Bhartrihari in 1946 as edited by Shri D.D. Kosambi. It was prepared after consulting about 200 manuscripts procured from distant places all over India and published with a Sanskrit commentary by a southern author. The commentary is very simple and lucid.
The Shataka or century called Niti Shataka, as pointed out in the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's 1946 edition, is divided into ten paddhatis or sections dealing with different topics. They are: (1) अज्ञ ajna, (2) विद्वत् vidvat, (3) मानशौर्य maanashaurya, (4) अर्थ artha, (5) दुर्जन durjana, (6) सुजन sujana, (7) परोपकार paropakara, (8) धैर्य dhairya. (9) दैव daiva (10) कर्म karma.
Indian literary tradition associates the name of Bhartrihari with these three Shatakas, but nothing is known positively about the author. Tradition makes him a brother of King Vikramaditya. He took to the life of a recluse on finding the infidelity of his wife as recorded in the famous verse "yaam chintayaami satatam mayi saa viraktaa" etc. (see page xix-a). There is another Bhartrihari who has written a philosophical grammar work called Vaakya-Padeeya, He is referred to by the Chinese traveller It sing in the 7th Century A.D.
Verses in the Niti Shataka in different editions are not in the same order. It is doubtful whether it is a single coherent poem or merely a collection of verses.
Out of the three shatakas, Niti Shataka and Vairagya Shataka are rated very high in merit - Niti Shataka even better than the Vairagya Shataka.
Bhartrihari was a man for all seasons, and accordingly this book is addressed to audience ranging between the age of 12 to 60 plus. Furthermore, in line with the message of 'universal brotherhood' (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) contained in Indian tradition, particularly, in Sanskrit literature, this presentation is intended for a wide spectrum of readership not only in India, but among visiting foreigners, as well as our own brethren and their children living abroad who, though citizens of the world, yet would like to occasionally read the literature of their heritage.
In Sanskrit, there are many works which separately cater to individual tastes of readers, varying from the mystical Vedas, to the philosophical Upanishads, the ethics of the Bhagawad Gita and the mundane tales of Hitopadesha. Besides, there also existed authors like Bhartrihari whose work enthrall all and sundry.
Bhartrihari's genius His genius lies in presenting stark realities of practical life and terse, pointed and instructive enunciations in strikingly few words. Perhaps, the first Hindu author to be known to Europe, he has established a place for himself among the foremost savants e.g. Shukracharya, Manu, Vidura and Chanakya in Sanskrit works.
Bhartrihari's poetry, works and philosophy - The genera of Sanskrit poetry are narrative (mahakavya), fragmentary (khandakavya) and lyrical (gitakavya) poetry. Narrative poetry is composed about mythical and historical personalities, and contains descriptions of cities, mountains, battles, weddings, seasons and nature etc. The great examples of narrative poetry are Valmiki's Ramayana (the story of Rama) and Kalidasa's Kumarasambhavam (the story of the birth of a prince to Shiva and Parvati).
Fragmentary poetry is in a single direction and has homogeneity of subject matter from the beginning till the end of the work, whether the same be social, ethical, romantic, renunciatory etc. Bhartrihari's trilogy viz. Shatakatraya comprising of Niti Shatak, Shringaar Shatak and Vairaagya Shatak are good examples of fragmentary poetry.
Lyrical poetry has an off shoot genere of independent verses (Muktakakavya) which though related to the general theme of the work are not arranged in any particular sequence or contextual order. These isolated stanzas are self contained in meaning.
In the lore, a multitude of verses are ascribed to Bhartrihari.
However, scholars have collated and given cognizance to a set of about 100 stanzas each for the three works of Bhartrihari. In these works there is a happy blending of Muktakakavya with fragmentary poetry. Bhartrihari excels in Muktakakavya. The brevity of his epigrams in the independent stanzas does not betray any inadequacy of recognised poetic sentiments (rasa), embellishments (alankaara) or human emotions (bhaava). On the other hand, ideas delivered in forthright and chaste manner in a few words add to the striking quality, and have unequivocal impact on the reader.
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