Madhurāvijayam of Gaṅgādevī /98

DESENVORDAN RE
 
3
 
MADHURAVIJAYAM
 
learning is demonstrated by the production of as many

as seventyfour poetic compositions?
 

 
15. We respectfully greet the great poet Gangā-

dhara as a second Vyāsa, in that he has made the story

of the Bhaārata actually seen by the device of dramati-

zation.
 

 
16. May the lord of poets, Visvanatha, flourish
ātha, flourish
long; for it is by his grace, even in individuals like my-

self, has dawned a sense of omniscience.
 

 
<error>Slöōkās</error><fix>Slōkas</fix> 17 to 24: Gangaā Deēvi on literary criticism.
 

 
17. There is sense in some, idea in some, and sen-

timent in some; but nowhere is found a work where all

these exist together.
 

 
18. Even as a single salt particle from an oyster-

shell spoils the liquid essence of black sandal, so too,

even the smallest flaw found in a poetic work renders

it censurable.
 

 
19. Just as an ugly woman, though virtuous, is

not pleasing to her husband, a faultless poetic compo-

sition, if devoid of qualities (fineness), does not satisfy
the man of learning.
 

the man of learning.
 
20. A vile man searches for faults in a poetic

composition, in disregard of its merits, even as the crow

shows a preference to the nimba (fruit) without caring
for the mango in the forest.
 

for the mango in the forest.
 
21. How long can a plagiarist dally with poesy

obtained by stealing? For shortlived is the radiance of
artificial colouring in a fictitious stone.
 

artificial colouring in a fictitious stone.