Taragan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text about the "Taragan" in English:

This document introduces "Taragan," a significant collection of Prakrit muktak (free-standing) poems, compiled by Shankuka and attributed to Mahavadiindra Bappabhattisuri. The author of this descriptive text is Harivallabh Bhayani, and the publisher is ZZ_Anusandhan.

Bappabhatti's Significance:

• Historical Context: Jain tradition places Bappabhatti's life from the 13th century onwards. He was born in a village in the Ganga-Yamuna doab and received his education and upbringing in Moḍherā, Gujarat. His primary spheres of activity were Kanauj and Gwalior.
• Patronage: He enjoyed a friendship and patronage with the Gurjar-Pratihara ruler, King Āma (also known as Nāgāvaloka, meaning Nagabhata II).
• Timeline: His period is estimated to be from 744 to 839 CE, and he was renowned as an excellent poet for centuries.
• Literary Works: The text mentions that Bappabhatti authored fifty-two works, including "Taragan," "Sarasvatidevi Stuti," and "Shantidevata Stavana." Currently, only "Taragan" and "Sarasvatistuti" are known to exist.

Discovery and Publication of "Taragan":

• Traditional Knowledge vs. Reality: While "Taragan" was traditionally known as a treasury of Prakrit subhashitas (wise sayings/poems), no manuscript was known to exist, and its nature, subject matter, and scope were completely unknown.
• Manuscript Discovery: Around 1970, a manuscript of "Taragan" was discovered in a manuscript library in Bikaner by the late Agarchand Nahata.
• Editing and Completion: The esteemed scholar Adinath Upadhye began the work of editing "Taragan," but it remained incomplete. The current author, Harivallabh Bhayani, completed the unfinished work.

Content and Significance of "Taragan":

• Compilation: "Taragan" contains 116 subhashitas collected by a poet named Shankuka, under the patronage of Bappabhatti.
• Themes: The poems deal with familiar themes such as love (union, separation, description of a woman's beauty), anyokti (allegory/indirect speech), good and bad people, and royal flattery.
• Literary Tradition: These muktak poems uphold the high tradition of Prakrit poetry.
• Position in Prakrit Literature: "Taragan" is placed chronologically between the Gatha Saptashati by Hala-Satavahana and the Vajjallagga by Jayavallabha. For lovers of Prakrit poetry, "Taragan" offers new samples to savor.

Bappabhatti's Life and Poetry as Depicted in "Prabhavakacharita":

• "Prabhavakacharita": The text references the "Bappabhattisuricharita" section within the "Prabhavakacharita" (written in 1278 CE by Acharya Prabhachandra). This biography is significant for using earlier traditional material.
• Character Portrayal: Prabhachandra vividly portrays Bappabhatti's erudition, intellectual wit, poetic talent, friendship with King Ama Nāgāvaloka, influence on the king, and his dignity through engaging anecdotes.
• Blend of Elements: Like many such biographies, it likely blends imagination, legends, and history. However, Prabhachandra's narrative skill and character depiction are highly commendable.
• Examples of Poetic Skill: The biography includes numerous incidents that showcase Bappabhatti's poetic abilities and, in that context, presents many Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha verses attributed to him.
• Attribution of Verses: Approximately forty Prakrit-Apabhramsha verses are presented. Some of these might be the result of verse completion, suggesting joint compositions by the king and Bappabhatti.

The Question of Authorship and Evidence:

• Reliable Proof: The central question arises: is there any other neutral and credible evidence to consider these verses as Bappabhatti's genuine compositions?
• Hemachandra's Grammar: One Apabhramsha verse and one Prakrit verse from the collection appear as examples in Hemachandra's "Siddha-Hema" grammar.
• The "Leaf" Verse: A specific Apabhramsha verse, quoted in "Prabhavakacharita" (p. 88, verse 216), is also found in "Siddha-Hema" (8.4.370) with slight textual variations. This verse, in response to King Āma's allegorical message about leaves falling from trees, is presented as a significant life event of Bappabhatti. The king's message (in Apabhramsha dohā) implies that trees cannot help if their leaves fall, even if they cherish them. Bappabhatti's response suggests that if the tree has any shade, it's from its own leaves, implying self-reliance.
• Discrepancy: However, the "Prabhavakacharita" does not list this "leaf" verse among the seven symbolic verses attributed to Bappabhatti.
• Translated Verses from "Taragan": The text also provides translations of two verses from "Taragan":
  • Verse 26: Describes a maladhari (shepherd) in the monsoon sky, driving herds of black clouds with the wind.
  • Verse 73: Suggests that both parties (lovers) are mistaken in their belief of unreciprocated love, leading to their weakness.
  • Verse 72: Highlights a disagreement between a husband and wife whose minds are otherwise in accord: he considers her his mistress, while she considers herself his servant.

In essence, the document introduces "Taragan" as a valuable rediscovered collection of Prakrit poetry, highlighting its compiler, its compiler's patron (Bappabhatti), its literary significance within Prakrit tradition, and the ongoing scholarly discussion regarding the authorship of some of the verses presented within Bappabhatti's biographical accounts.