{{Short description|Lost ancient Indian epic}} {{italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox poem | name = Bṛhatkathā | image = Brhatkatha stemma.svg | caption = Probable relationship between versions of the ''Brihatkatha'' | author = Guṇāḍhya | language = Paisaci (पैशाची) | form=epic }} '''''Bṛhatkathā''''' (बृहत्कथा) (Sanskrit, "the Great Narrative") is an ancient Indian epic, said to have been written by '''Guṇāḍhya''' (गुणाढ्य) in a poorly-understood language known as Paiśācī. The work no longer exists but several later adaptations — the ''Kathāsaritsāgara'' (''कथासरित्सागर''), ''Bṛhatkathāmañjarī'' (''बृहत्कथामंजरी'') and ''Bṛhatkathāślokasaṃgraha'' (''बृहत्कथाश्लोकसंग्रह'') in Sanskrit, as well as the ''Peruṅkatai'' and ''Vasudevahiṃḍi'' in vernaculars — make commentary on the piece.
The date of its composition is uncertain. According to testimonials by later Sanskrit poets such as Daṇḍin, the author of the ''Kavyadarsha'', Subandhu, the author of ''Vasavadatta'', and Bāṇabhaṭṭa, the author of the ''Kadambari'', the ''Bṛhatkathā'' existed in the 6th century CE.<ref>Winternitz 1985, p 346.</ref> According to other estimates it predates that period by several more centuries. For example, if the story of Udayana by poet Bhāsa (and also later by Harsha in Ratnavali) was inspired by ''Brihatkatha'', it had to be older than the time of Bhāsa — itself uncertain, but before the 3rd century CE.
Scholars compare Guṇāḍhya with Vyasa and Valmiki even though he did not write the now long-lost ''Brihatkatha'' in Sanskrit; the loss of this text is one of the greatest losses of Indian literature. Presently available are its two Kashmiri Sanskrit recensions, the ''Brihatkathamanjari'' by Kshemendra and the ''Kathasaritsagara'' by Somadeva.{{sfn|Das|2005|p=104}}
==Gunadhya== Guṇāḍhya could have flourished during the reign of a Satavahana king of Pratishthana (modern-day Paithan, Maharashtra). According to D. C. Sircar, he probably flourished between the 1st century BCE and 3rd century CE. An alternative account, mentioned in the ''Nepala Mahatmya'' of the Skanda Purana, states that Gunadhya was born in Mathura, and was a court poet of the king Madana of Ujjain. Sircar calls this tradition less authentic.{{sfn|Sircar|1969|p=108}}
==Early references== The earliest extant reference to the ''Bṛhatkathā'' seems to be that of Subandhu (600-700 CE) in ''Vasavadatta''.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, p 11.</ref> Bāṇa (7th century) refers to it in his romances ''Harshacharita'' and ''Kadambari''.<ref>Nelson 1974, pp 19-22.</ref> A reference by Daṇḍin in his ''Kavyadarsha'' is problematic because it describes the ''Bṛhatkathā'' as being marvelous and as composed in the vernacular of the bhūtas (evidently Paiśācī). However, the information appears to be second-hand. A fuller reference is provided in ''Dashakumaracharita'', whose author is possibly not the same Daṇḍin.<ref>Nelson 1974, pp 33-35.</ref> Later references include the ''Daśarūpa'' of Dhanamjaya, ''Nalacampū'' of Trivikramabhaṭṭa,<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 11-12.</ref> and ''Āryāsaptaśatī'' of Govardhanācārya.<ref>Nelson 1974, pp 36-37.</ref> A Cambodian inscription (c. 875) expressly mentions Guṇāḍhya and his aversion to Prakrit.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 12-13.</ref> The earliest extant Kannada work on grammar and poetics, ''Kavirajamarga'' by Nripatunga (c. 850), mentions a now-lost Sanskrit version of ''Bṛhatkathā'' by the author Durvinita. We can safely assume the existence of a romantic work by Guṇāḍhya before 600 CE.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}}
==Reconstructed content==
thumb|upright=2.5|Relationships of chief characters in the ''Brihatkatha'' (as evidenced by the derived texts ''Brihatkathashlokasamgraha'', ''Brihatkathamanjari'', and ''Kathasaritsagara''). Although several derivative works remain today, they differ so greatly that they cannot be used to reconstruct the ''Bṛhatkathā'' in its totality. However, some strong inferences can be made about its content based on their similarities.<ref>Reconstruction based on Nelson 1974, pp 324-327 & Nelson 1978, pp 665-669; except where noted.</ref>
===Udayana===
Due to a ''dohada'' ("pregnancy craving"), Mṛgāvatī, pregnant with Udayana, is either covered or immersed in red. A monstrous bird mistakes her for raw meat and carries her away, later dropping her. She is cared for in a hermitage, where she raises her son.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 58-60.</ref> Udayana obtains a wonderful lute, elephant-taming skills, and confidants; he and his mother eventually return to their home, Kauśāmbī.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 60-62.</ref>
Udayana is later captured by Pradyota, the King of Ujjayinī. Here, he teaches the lute to Pradyota's daughter, Vāsavadattā, and they fall in love.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 60-62.</ref> Eventually, they escape to Kauśāmbī, where Udayana's rightful kingship is restored, and they are married.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 78-81.</ref> But, fearing Udayana is weakening, and desiring an additional political alliance, Udayana's ministers make him believe that Vāsavadattā is dead, and arrange a marriage to Padmāvatī.<ref>Vijayalakshmy 1981, pp 84-86.</ref>
Though he is later reunited with Vāsavadattā, Udayana remains childless. Later, as a boon of Kubera, Vāsavadattā becomes pregnant with Naravāhanadatta (his name means "given by Kubera"),<ref>Penzer 1924, Vol IX p 119.</ref> who is fated to become the emperor of the Vidyādharas.
===Naravāhanadatta===
Udayana's life serves as the prelude to the central story of his son, Naravāhanadatta. Unlike his father, who appears in several works unrelated to the ''Bṛhatkathā'', Naravāhanadatta is known only from texts demonstrably linked to the ''Bṛhatkathā''.<ref>Nelson 1974, pp 16-17.</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |+ Equivalents of chief names<ref>Nelson 1974, pp 330-332.</ref> ! Sanskrit !! Tamil (''Peruṅkatai'') |- style="background: silver;" | Kauśāmbī || Kōcampi |- style="background: silver;" | Ujjayinī || Uñcai, Uñcēṉai |- | Gomukha || Kōmukaṉ |- | Hariśikha || Arucikaṉ |- | Kaliṅgasenā || Kaliṅkacēṉai |- | Madanamañjukā || Mataṉamañcikai |- | Mānasavega || Māṇacavēkaṇ |- | Mārubhūtika (Bhūti, Marubhūti) || Pūti |- | Naravāhanadatta || Naravāṇatattaṉ |- | Padmāvatī || Patumāpati |- | Pradyota Mahāsena || Piraccōtaṉaṉ Maṟamāccēṉaṉ |- | Ṛṣabhaka || Iṭapakaṉ |- | Rumaṇvān (Rumaṇvat) || Urumaṇṇuvā |- | Śatānīka || Catāṉikaṉ |- | Tapantaka || Tavantakaṉ |- | Udayana || Utayaṇaṉ |- | Vasantaka || Vayantakaṉ |- | Vāsavadattā || Vācavatattai |- | Vegavatī || Vēkavati |- | Yaugandharāyaṇa || Yūkantarāyaṇaṉ, Yūki |- | colspan=2 | ''Placenames in {{Font color||silver|gray.}}'' |} {| class="wikitable" |+ Character equivalents in the ''Vasudevahiṃḍi'' ! Sanskrit !! Mahārāṣṭri |- | Naravāhanadatta || Vasudeva<ref>Nelson 1974, p 197.</ref> |- | Udayana || Aṃdhagavaṇhi<ref>Nelson 1974, p 206.</ref> |}
==Relevance== The earliest reference to Vikramāditya is traced in the lost ''Brihatkatha''. Guṇāḍhya describes the great generosity, undaunted valour and other qualities of Vikramāditya, whose qualities are also mentioned by Satavahana king Hāla or Halavahana, a predecessor of Gautamiputra Satakarni in his ''Gaha Sattasai''; Guṇāḍhya and Hāla lived close to the time of Vikramāditya.{{sfn|Jain|1972|p=157}}
Guṇāḍhya wrote the ''Brihatkatha'' in the little-known Prakrit called Paiśācī, the language of common people of the border regions of Northwest India.{{sfn|Kawthekar|1995|p=20}} Daṇḍin asserts the fundamental importance of the ''Brihatkatha'' and states that it was written in prose and not in poetic form suggested by the three known Kashmiri rescensions ''Haracaritacintamani'' of Jayaratha included.{{sfn|Keith|1993|pp=266, 268}}
''Brihatkatha'' must have been a storehouse of tales about heroes and kings and gods and demigods and also about animals and birds. Kshemendra's ''Brihatkathamanjari'' must be a faithful summary of the original which too was in eighteen Books called ''Lambakas''. The earliest version must have been the ''Bṛhatkathāślokasaṃgraha'' of Budhasvamin, the complete work of which has not been found.{{sfn|Raja|1962}}
Guṇāḍhya must have lived a glorious life; he must have been a versatile writer, a master of literary art capable of weaving into his story of romantic adventures all the marvels of myth, magic and fairy tale.{{sfn|Datta|1988|p=1506}} The stories forming the ''Brihatkatha'' had a divine origin which origin is recounted by Somadeva. Since King Satvahana has been identified with Shalivahana, Guṇāḍhya must have lived around 78 CE.{{sfn|Srinivasachariar|1974|p=414,417}} Guṇāḍhya is perhaps the only author of a well-known text who speaks in the first person. His story is told from his point of view, not by an unseen, omnipresent narrator as in the case of Vyasa and Valmiki.{{sfn|Bhaṭṭa|1994|p=xxiv}}
==Legendary origin== thumb|upright=2|Major characters and path of Shiva's story in the legend of Gunadhya, as told in the first Book of the ''Kathasaritsagara'' (Ocean of Rivers of Story).<ref>Lacôte 1923, pp 22-25.</ref> For the origin of ''Brihatkatha'' as described in ''Kathasaritsagara'', see the adjacent diagram.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1506 "Gunadhya" from "The Encyclopaedia Of Indian Literature] (Volume Two) (Devraj to Jyoti)" by Amaresh Datta, page 1506.</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist|2}}
==References== *{{cite book | title=Essay on Gunādhya and the Brhatkathā | first=Felix | last=Lacôte | translator-first=A. M. | translator-last=Tabard | date=1923 | location=Bangalore City | publisher=Bangalore Press }} (reprint, from the ''Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society'', of Tabard's translation of Lacôte 1908: {{Internet Archive|Lacote1908|Essai sur Guṇāḍhya et la Bṛhatkathā}}) * {{cite book | title=The Bṛhatkathā: A Reconstruction from Bṛhatkathāślokasaṃgraha, Peruṅkatai and Vasudevahiṃḍi | first=Donald | last=Nelson | date=1974 | publisher=University of Chicago }} (PhD Dissertation) *{{cite journal | title=Bṛhatkathā Studies: The Problem of an Ur-text | first=Donald | last=Nelson | journal=Journal of Asian Studies | volume=XXXVII | issue=4 | date=August 1978 | publisher=Association for Asian Studies | pages=663–676 | doi=10.2307/2054369 | jstor=2054369 | s2cid=147593705 }} *{{cite book | title=The Ocean of Story, being C.H. Tawney's Translation of Somadeva's Kathā Sarit Sāgara (or Ocean of Streams of Story) | year=1924 | last=Penzer | first=N. M. | author-link=Norman Mosley Penzer | publisher=Chas. J. Sawyer | location=London }} [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein01somauoft Vol I], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein02somauoft Vol II], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein03somauoft Vol III], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein04somauoft Vol IV], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein05somauoft Vol V], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein06somauoft Vol VI], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein07somauoft Vol VII], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein08somauoft Vol VIII], [https://archive.org/details/oceanofstorybein09somauoft Vol IX], {{Internet Archive|id=oceanofstorybein10somauoft|name=Vol X}}, or as [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/kathasaritsagara-the-ocean-of-story proofread HTML eBook Volume 1-9], including thousands of notes and large appendixes. * {{cite book | title=A Study of the Peruṅkatai: an authentic version of the story of Udayana | first=R. | last=Vijayalakshmy | date=1981 | publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies | location=Madras }} * {{cite book|last=Winternitz|first=Moriz|author-link=Moriz Winternitz|title=History of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ql0BmInD1c4C&pg=PA346|date=1 January 1985|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0056-4}} *{{cite book| title = Kathasaritasagara | last = Bhaṭṭa | first = Somadeva | year = 1994 | publisher = Penguin Books India | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=k-Nd7XYIp4MC&pg=PA47 | page = xxiv | isbn = 978-0-14-024721-3 }} *{{cite book| title = A History of Indian Literature, 500-1399: From Courtly to the Popular | last = Das | first = Sisir Kumar | year = 2005 | publisher = Sahitya Akademi | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=BC3l1AbPM8sC&pg=PA104 | isbn = 978-81-260-2171-0 }} *{{cite book| title = Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature | last = Datta | first = Amaresh | year = 1988 | publisher = Sahitya Akademi | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1506 | isbn = 978-81-260-1194-0 }} *{{cite book| title = Malwa Through the Ages, from the Earliest Times to 1305 A.D | last = Jain | first = Kailash Chand | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_3O7q7cU7k0C&pg=PA157 | date = 1972 | isbn = 978-81-208-0824-9 }} *{{cite book| title = Kathasaritasagara | publisher = Penguin Books India | year = 1994 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=k-Nd7XYIp4MC&pg=PA47 | isbn = 978-0-14-024721-3 }} *{{cite book| title = Bilhana | last = Kawthekar | first = Prabhakar Narayan | publisher = Sahitya Akademi | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Bq5rT0yXGC0C&pg=PA20 | date = 1995 | isbn = 978-81-7201-779-8 }} *{{cite book| title = A History of Sanskrit Literature | last = Keith | first = Arthur Berriedale | year = 1993 | author-link = Arthur Berriedale Keith | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=GNALtBMVbd0C&pg=PA267 | isbn = 978-81-208-1100-3 }} *{{cite book| title = Essay on Gunādhya and the Brhatkathā | last1 = Lacôte | first1 = Felix | last2 = Tabard | first2 = A. M. (translator) | publisher = Bangalore Press | location = Bangalore City | date = 1923 }} (reprint, from the ''Quarterly Journal of the Mythic Society'', of Tabard's translation of Lacôte 1908: {{Internet Archive|Lacote1908|Essai sur Guṇāḍhya et la Bṛhatkathā}}) *{{cite book| title = Survey of Sanskrit Literature | last = Raja | first = C. Kunhan | year = 1962 | publisher = Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan | url = https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.36442 }} *{{cite book| title = Ancient Malwa And The Vikramaditya Tradition | last = Sircar | first = D. C. | year = 1969 | publisher = Munshiram Manoharlal | page = 108 | url = http://dli.serc.iisc.ernet.in:8080/handle/2015/131352 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160617064610/http://dli.serc.iisc.ernet.in:8080/handle/2015/131352 | archive-date = 17 June 2016 | isbn = 978-812150348-8 }} *{{cite book| title = History of Classical Sanskrit Literature: Being an Elaborate Account of All Branches of Classical Sanskrit Literature, with Full Epigraphical and Archaeological Notes and References, an Introduction Dealing with Language, Philology, and Chronology, and Index of Authors & Works | last = Srinivasachariar | first = M | year = 1974 | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4dVRvVyHaiQC&pg=PA416 | isbn = 978-81-208-0284-1 }} *{{cite book| title = History of Indian Literature | last = Winternitz | first = Moriz | author-link = Moriz Winternitz | publisher = Motilal Banarsidass | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ql0BmInD1c4C&pg=PA346 | date = 1985 | isbn = 978-81-208-0056-4 }}
{{Brihatkatha}}
Category:Indian poetics Category:History of literature in India Category:Prakrit literature Category:Paisachi literature Category:Epic poems Category:Indian poems Category:Panchatantra