Amru Shatakam

The provided text is a catalog listing and the beginning of a commentary for the Amarushatakam by Amaruka, with a commentary by Arjunavarmadeva. It was edited by Pandit Durgaprasad and Kashinath Pandurang Parab and published by the Nirnaya-Sagara Press in Bombay in 1889. The price was 10 Annas. It is noted as being for private and personal use only.

The subsequent pages delve into the text itself, starting with an introduction to the author, Amaruka, and a discussion of various theories surrounding his identity and the origin of the Amarushatakam. It examines popular legends, such as the connection to Shankaracharya, but ultimately refutes them based on textual evidence from Shankaracharya's biographies. The text suggests that Amaruka was likely a poet from the 9th century AD, citing the prominent critic Anandavardhana who quoted extensively from the Amarushatakam in his Dhvanyaloka.

The introduction then lists several commentaries on the Amarushatakam, including Arjunavarmadeva's Rasikasanjivini, which is stated to be the most esteemed and is the one published in this edition. It provides biographical details about Arjunavarmadeva, identifying him as a descendant of the Malava king Jayasimha and the son of Subhaṭavarma, and dating him to the first half of the 13th century AD. The text also mentions other commentators like Vemabhupala, Rudradeva, Ravichandra, Suryadasa, and Shesharama Krishna, briefly discussing their commentaries and origins.

The subsequent pages (4-94) contain the actual commentary (Rasikasanjivini) on the Amarushatakam, verse by verse. This commentary is highly detailed, analyzing the poetic devices, figures of speech (like anupraasa, upama, utpreksha, rupaka, arthashlesha, vishama, pariivritti, etc.), meters (like Gaudiya riti, Vaidarbha marga), and the underlying sentiments (rasa, particularly shringara rasa) and their various nuances and expressions in the erotic poetry of Amaruka. The commentary also engages in discussions of grammar, poetics, and even provides definitions and examples of various literary concepts.

The text includes several "Addenda" (Parishishta) which contain additional verses attributed to Amaruka that are not found in the original text but are cited in other works like Subhashitavali and Sharngadharapaddhati. These are presented with their respective commentaries, further enriching the understanding of Amaruka's possible poetic output.

In essence, this publication is a scholarly edition of the Amarushatakam, offering a critical and comprehensive analysis through the lens of Arjunavarmadeva's influential commentary, providing deep insights into Sanskrit poetics and the exploration of love and eroticism in classical Indian literature. The inclusion of additional verses and the detailed commentary makes it a valuable resource for understanding this significant work.