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FOREWORD
 
Kashmir has been a cradle of Indian culture and civilization
since very early times. This beautiful valley is renowned not
only for its natural beauty but also for its poetry, philosophy
and other intellectual achievements.
 
This book containing about 100 verses of the Kashmiri poet
Bhallata has been critically edited and translated in Hindi and
English by Dr. Ved Kumari Ghai and Dr. Ram Pratap of
Jammu University. The value of this edition is enhanced with
the inclusion of an old Sanskrit commentary from the pen of a
south Indian writer, Maheśvara, which has been published for
the first time. It is a relieving feature of Sanskrit studies that
these get equal response from all parts of India and are thus an
important factor for national integration.
 
The verses of this Sataka are full of satire and suggestion
and give a clear picture of real life. This type of poetry has its
eternal value and is relevant even today. Thus this literary
composition is a welcome addition to the Sanskrit literature.
I hope the scholars and students of Sanskrit language will find
the book interesting and useful.
 
Jammu Tawi
November 14, 1984
 
M. R. PURI
 
CC-0 Shashi Shekhar Toshkhani Collection. Digitized by eGangotri