UPSC Express

Kavirajamargam

• Kavirajamargam (The Way of the King of Poets) was authored by Srivijaya.
• The work dates back to the 9th century.
  It has been translated by R.V.S. Sundaram and Deven M. Patel.
• Kavirajamargam is an extant work of early Kannada.
• It is regarded as one of the early works to address literary culture from a regional perspective.
• Kavirajamargam is recognised as an important influence in shaping the literary tradition of Kannada scholars such as Sheldon Pollock, K.V. Subbanna, K.D. Kurtakoti, D.R. Nagaraj, Sha. Shettar and K.V. Narayana.
• According to translators, the author dealt with the nativity of the region’s aesthetic dispositions in this unique work.
• Kavirajamargam uses traditional Kannada metrical compositions such as Kanda, Gitike and Akkara and also several metres borrowed from Sanskrit, which makes translation a challenge.
• The work is sometimes attributed to Rashtrakuta King Nrupatunga Amoghavarsha but it is argued that it is the work of poet Srivijaya who was in his court.
• It maps a location where Kannada literature is produced and also offers a paean to the literary abilities of the people of this region.
• The boundaries of Kannada country are delineated to extend from the river Kaveri to the Godavari river.

Vaddaradhane

• The next translation on plan is Vaddaradhane (890 CE) by Shivakotiacharya and is also the earliest extant prose work in Kannada and a collection of 19 stories written in old Kannada, replete with Prakrit words.
• Vaddaradhane throws light on the contemporary lifestyles as well as the nature of Kannada during the period of its composition, besides being an important source of historical details.
• Saahasabhimavijaya or Gadhayuddha by Ranna, a 10th century Kannada poet, is another important Kannada classic JNU Kannada Chair is planning to translate into English.