Karnamrut Prapa

"Karnamṛtaprapa" (कर्णामृत-प्रपा), compiled by Muni Jinavijaya and published by the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, Jodhpur, is a collection of 217 verses composed by the renowned medieval Sanskrit poet Bhatt Someshvara. The anthology was brought to light from a single manuscript preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune.

The foreword highlights that Bhatt Someshvara, a priest to the Calukya Kings of Gujarat, was also a close friend of Mahāmātya Vastupāla, a significant patron of literature and art. Someshvara was active in the first half of the 13th century and was a prolific writer across various genres, including Mahākāvya, Nāṭaka, Stotra, and Prasastis. "Karnamṛtaprapa" is noted as his only remaining work to be published, showcasing his versatility in composing stray Subhāṣitas alongside larger literary works.

The anthology is organized into several sections, each focusing on different themes, such as:

• Stuti (Praise): Offering prayers and invocations.
• Lakshmi (Wealth): Reflecting on the capricious nature of wealth and its effects on people.
• Kama (Desire): Exploring the power and consequences of desire.
• Lobha (Greed): Denouncing the corrupting influence of greed.
• Kali-svarupam (The Nature of Kali Yuga): Critiquing the moral and social decline during the Kali Yuga, depicting the degradation of various societal strata, particularly Brahmins.
• Kunanarendra Ninda (Condemnation of Bad Kings): Criticizing unethical rulers and their detrimental impact on society.
• Durjana (The Wicked Person): Describing the characteristics and harmful actions of wicked individuals.
• Manasvi (The Noble-minded): Portraying the qualities of a noble and self-respecting person.
• Vidhi (Fate/Destiny): Reflecting on the role of fate in human life.
• Nirveda (Detachment/Renunciation): Expressing a sense of dispassion and detachment from worldly affairs.
• Upadesha (Advice/Exhortation): Offering moral and spiritual guidance.
• Sri Krishna Prarthana (Prayer to Krishna): Devotional verses seeking the grace of Lord Krishna.
• Sajjan-Durjana Varnana (Description of the Good and the Bad): Contrasting the virtuous with the wicked.
• Samsara Sthiti Varnana (Description of the State of Worldly Existence): Discussing the transient and often suffering-filled nature of worldly life.
• Prakirna Suktani (Miscellaneous Sayings): A collection of miscellaneous verses.

The verses in "Karnamṛtaprapa" offer sharp observations on human nature, societal issues, and spiritual truths. They often employ subtle irony and critique, reflecting a mature understanding of life and morality. The work serves as a repository of ethical teachings and philosophical insights, characteristic of classical Sanskrit literature. The compilation and publication of this work by the Rajasthan Oriental Research Institute, under the guidance of Muni Jinavijaya, is a significant contribution to the study of medieval Sanskrit poetry and the works of Bhatt Someshvara.