Devisatakam
By Janaki Nath Sastri
Summary
This notice reviews the Sanskrit Sahitya Parishat’s edition of “Devisataka”, a hymn of 100 verses in praise of the goddess composed by Kṛṣṇanātha Sarvabhauma of Kotwalipara in Faridpur in the sixteenth century. Edited by Janakinātha Śāstrī and issued as part of the Parishat’s series, the text is accompanied by critical apparatus comparing multiple manuscripts. The reviewer notes that the poem extols the Devi’s various forms and would interest scholars of devotional literature; it is published alongside another work, “Sataranjakutuhalam”, an anonymous treatise on the game of chess with an accompanying commentary. Both editions draw on several manuscripts and record variant readings, making them valuable resources for researchers. The reviewer applauds the Parishat for making such texts, previously available only in its journal, accessible as standalone publications, thereby aiding the study of lesser‑known Sanskrit works from Bengal. He also observes that literature on chess in Sanskrit is rare and that the commentary helps readers follow the technical descriptions.
Conclusion
The review welcomes the publication of Kṛṣṇanātha Sarvabhauma’s devotional hymn “Devisataka” and the anonymous “Sataranjakutuhalam”, noting that both have been critically edited from multiple manuscripts and made available outside the Parishat’s journal. These editions enhance access to regional Sanskrit literature and, in the case of the chess manual, offer new material for the cultural history of games. The editor’s work in collating variants and providing commentary makes these texts more intelligible and underscores the importance of preserving and disseminating lesser‑known works.