MISCELLANY - The Candragupta of Vamana's Kavyalankara-sutras
By Dasharatha Sharma
Summary
The verse from Vamana's *Kavyalankara-sutras* and the third stanza of Candragupta's Mehrauli pillar inscription share striking similarities. Both are composed in the *शादू लविक्रीडिस* metre and use the adjective *चन्द्र* in similar forms. The verses celebrate a ruler named Candragupta, described as a young and radiant king, whose achievements and virtues are extolled. The Mehrauli inscription explicitly praises Candragupta's son, while the *Kavyalankara-sutras* verse likely glorifies the same patron, possibly through a drama commissioned by his court. The connection between the two texts suggests they were composed by the same poet, with the Mehrauli inscription possibly written to honor Candragupta's legacy, while the drama serves a similar purpose for his son. The analysis highlights the poetic and thematic parallels, reinforcing the likelihood of a single authorial source and a shared historical context tied to Candragupta and his lineage.
Conclusion
This analysis reveals a significant literary and historical connection between Vamana's Kavyalankara-sutras and Candragupta's Mehrauli pillar inscription, suggesting both were likely composed by the same poet or courtly circle. The shared metre, stylistic similarities, and thematic parallels—particularly the use of "चन्द्र" and the glorification of royal patronage—strongly indicate a common authorship or inspiration. The findings challenge earlier attributions to multiple figures, proposing instead a unified context tied to Candragupta's reign or his son's court. This discovery underscores the intertextual nature of classical Sanskrit literature and highlights the importance of re-examining traditional scholarly assumptions about authorship and historical connections. The study enriches our understanding of poetic conventions and royal patronage in ancient Indian literary culture.