2023-04-10 05:19:32 by ambuda-bot
This page has not been fully proofread.
INTRODUCTION
I. The author of the Sahityakantakoddhara
In his History of Classical Sanskrit Literature
M. Krishnamachariar mentions on page 789 one
Madhusudana as the author of the Sahityakantakod-
dhāra (hereafter abbreviated S.K.U.). He does not
supply any source or basis for this information about
the name of the author. But, I do not find any name
of the author at all in the manuscripts (7 in all) I
have collated for the present edition.
In the verse 9 at the beginning (nityam vaidyaka-
śästra etc.) the author mentions Nārāyaṇa as his
father. This Nārāyaṇa is also described, in the same
verse, to have been a dedicated master, who was
always bent on explaining clearly the hidden mean-
ings of the texts on the science of medicine (i.e.
Ayurveda-sästra). He is further referred to as śrivat-
sanvaya-bhūṣaṇa, i.e. an ornament or a gem in the
family belonging to the Srivatsagotra. The mother of
the author is described to have been a symbol or a
protector of the pativratadharma, and according to
some her name is Dharmavati, though the present
editor is not convinced about it. Nothing is con-
veyed about her parents or the family. In verse
8, the author speaks highly about two of his ances-
tors, mentions them -as Koneri-Vitthalabudhau and says
that they were experts in expounding the science of
medicine, who surpassed in the proficiency even the
twin divine physicians (Aśvinidevas). They, it is
1. See Note 17-b to the text, and the verse 9 in this connection.
I. The author of the Sahityakantakoddhara
In his History of Classical Sanskrit Literature
M. Krishnamachariar mentions on page 789 one
Madhusudana as the author of the Sahityakantakod-
dhāra (hereafter abbreviated S.K.U.). He does not
supply any source or basis for this information about
the name of the author. But, I do not find any name
of the author at all in the manuscripts (7 in all) I
have collated for the present edition.
In the verse 9 at the beginning (nityam vaidyaka-
śästra etc.) the author mentions Nārāyaṇa as his
father. This Nārāyaṇa is also described, in the same
verse, to have been a dedicated master, who was
always bent on explaining clearly the hidden mean-
ings of the texts on the science of medicine (i.e.
Ayurveda-sästra). He is further referred to as śrivat-
sanvaya-bhūṣaṇa, i.e. an ornament or a gem in the
family belonging to the Srivatsagotra. The mother of
the author is described to have been a symbol or a
protector of the pativratadharma, and according to
some her name is Dharmavati, though the present
editor is not convinced about it. Nothing is con-
veyed about her parents or the family. In verse
8, the author speaks highly about two of his ances-
tors, mentions them -as Koneri-Vitthalabudhau and says
that they were experts in expounding the science of
medicine, who surpassed in the proficiency even the
twin divine physicians (Aśvinidevas). They, it is
1. See Note 17-b to the text, and the verse 9 in this connection.