The “Kiratarjuniya”, an epic poem in eighteen cantos is Bharavi’s only known work, writes MEERA S. SASHITAL.
As with many of the Sanskrit poets and scholars we do not have much details regarding Bharavi’s life. Whatever facts we do have, they are gathered from inferences made from references and inscriptions about him. A Chalukya inscription from 634 CE mentions him and Kalidasa as famous poets of the past. Bharavi was the author of ‘Kiratarjuniya’ (Arjuna and the mountain man) one of the classical Sanskrit epics classified as a Mahakavya (great poem).
In another inscription, the king Durvinita of the Western Ganga Dynasty mentions having written a commentary on the 15th canto of Bharavi’s Kiratarjuniya. The Western Ganga Dynasty ruled from about the middle of the 4th century and Durvinita is usually believed to have lived in the later half of the sixth century.
The poet Dandin who was born during the 7th century, seems to have reported that his great-grandfather was a friend of Bharavi and was introduced to a king Visnuvardhana, before receiving patronage from Durvinita and king Simhavishnu of the Pallav dynasty. Bharavi’s name, along with the name of the great poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language viz. Kalidasa, is mentioned in a stone inscription dated 634 CE found at Aihole located in present day Karnataka.
Bharavi, it is surmised, probably belonged to Southern India. Bharavi means “Lustre of the Sun”. It is reported that his original name was Damodara. He seemed to have flourished during the reigns of the King Durvinita of the Western Ganga dynasty and King Simhavishnu of the Pallava dynasty as already mentioned.
The “Kiratarjuniya”, an epic poem in eighteen cantos is Bharavi’s only known work. It is regarded to be the most powerful poem in Sanskrit language. Some scholars consider it “the most perfect epic available to us” after Asvaghosa’s Buddhacharita noting his greater force of expression, with more concentration and polish in every detail. Despite using extremely difficult language and rejoicing in the finer points of Sanskrit grammar, he adheres to conciseness and directness. His alliteration, “crisp texture of sound”, and choice of metre closely correspond to the narrative.
Bharavi’s poetry is characterized by its intricate styles and lofty expressions. Like Kalidasa well-known for his similes (upamas), and Dandin for his word play (padalalityam), Bharavi is known for his “weight of meaning” (arthagauravam). He may have influenced the 8th century poet Magha.
Bharavi’s Kiratarjuniya was based on an episode from the third parva or section, of the long Sanskrit poem Mahabharata (“Great Epic of the Bharata dynasty”). In 18 cantos Bharavi described the Pandava prince Arjuna’s encounter and ensuing combat with a Kirata or wild mountaineer, who in the end proves to be the God Shiva. For his valour and penance, Shiva awards the ascetic hero with a coveted weapon of the Pashupata. The 15th Chitrakavya or canto is known for its verbal complexity, the 14th stanza contains elaborate rhythmic consonance and the 25th features anagrammatic internal rhyme.
Kiratarjuniya is a very famous story in the Mahabharata. The two main characters in the story are Kirata (Shiva) and Arjuna. During the exile of Pandvas in the Mahabharata, sage Vyasa advises the Pandavas to use the exile period to propitiate God and become more powerful. Arjuna decided to propitiate Indra for this purpose. He went to the Indrakila hill and subjected himself to severe austerities. Indra appeared before Arjuna and asked him to propitiate Shiva as only Mahadev could bless a warrior with different powerful celestial weapons.
Arjuna then started severe penance by eating only dry leaves and fallen fruits. Arjuna’s penance was so intensive that heat began to emit from earth. This made the life of living beings on earth harsh. Finally Shiva decided to appear before Arjun as Kirata or the hunter.
When Shiva was approaching Arjuna, He saw a demon in the form of a boar about to jump on Arjuna. Arjuna also saw the boar. Both Arjuna and Kirata shot arrows on the boar. The arrow hit the boar which fell down dead. Both Arjuna and Kirata made the claim and the kill. A battle of words ensued between them. Soon it turned into a fierce fight; first with bows and arrows, then with sword and missiles etc. Al attempts of Arjuna were thwarted by Kirata. Fire missiles were answered with rain missiles; Nagastra was replied by Garudastra. Finally, both took hand to hand to combat. Ajuna was easily overpowered by Kirata.
Soon Arjuna realized that the Kirata was no human and immediately collecting some clay created a Shivalinga. Arjuna prayed and started showering the Linga with forest flowers. But Lo! The flowers flew to Kirata’s head. Arjuna at once fell at the feet of Kirata as he now knew that Kirata the mountain hunter was no other than Lord Shiva come to test him.
Shiva immensely pleased with Arjun’s austerities reveals His true form sitting atop Nandi and blessed Arjun with the famous celestial Pashupat weapon of His. Bharavi , the Sanskrit poet rose to fame and became immortal though with only one work of his viz.the “Kiratarjuniya” classical Sanskrit Epic poem classified as a Mahakavya (great poem) and regarded as the most powerful poem in Sanskrit language.
