महाकवि धनपाल व्यक्तित्व एवं कृतित्व

Summary

The text discusses the Jain poet Dhanapala, his life, works, and the dating of his sole surviving Apabhramsha composition, "Bhavisayattakaha." Dhanapala was a Digambara Jain of the Dhakka clan, with parents named Mateshvara and Dhanashri. His exact period is debated. While some scholars, like Rahul Sankrityayan, place him in the 10th century, others, like Motilal Menaria, suggest 1081 of the Jain era. However, based on historical references within the text, including the rule of Muhammad Shah in Delhi (1325-51 CE), Dr. Devendrakumar Shastri argues for the 14th century as the most likely period for the work's composition. "Bhavisayattakaha" is a narrative poem in three parts. The first part describes the wealth of the protagonist, Bhavishyadatta. The second details his role and victory in a war between the kings of Kuru and Takshashila. The third part recounts the past and future births of Bhavishyadatta and his companions, culminating in his renunciation after a monk's sermon. The text also describes the importance of the Shrutapanchami vow. The work is considered a successful example of a Prabandha-kavya, though some critics note a loss of momentum due to inserted sub-stories. It is praised for its realistic depiction of life, moving away from purely mythological themes, and for its psychological character development. The primary rasa is identified as Shringara (erotic), connected to the underlying motive of protecting a woman, rather than the Veera (heroic) rasa of the war scenes. The poem concludes in Shanta (peaceful) rasa. The language is literary Apabhramsha, not a spoken dialect, and employs a Kadavaka-bandha style. The text uses similes and other figures of speech effectively. Overall, "Bhavisayattakaha" is considered an