Essay name: Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures (seven volumes)
Author:
Satya Vrat Shastri
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The series called "Discovery of Sanskrit Treasures" represents a comprehensive seven-volume compendium of Dr. Satya Vrat Shastri's research on Sanskrit and Indology. They feature a wide range of studies across major disciplines in these fields, showcasing Shastri's pioneering work. They include detailed analyses like the linguistic appraisal of Yogavasishtha, etymological studies in the Mahabharata and the Devibhagavata-purana, as well as explorations of human values as defined in ancient texts.
Volume 4 - Modern Sanskrit Literature
20 (of 222)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
CC-0. Prof. Satya Vrat Shastri Collection, New Delhi. Digitized by S3 Foundation USA.
2
Prose
Prose in India goes back to hoary past. A large part of Sanskrit
literature, original and commentarial, is composed in it. In one
period of time it touched such aesthetic heights as to be
proclaimed as the touchstone, the nikasa, of the poets. B膩峁嘺,
Subandhu, Da峁囜笉in and So岣峝hala with their voluminous Kath膩s
and Akhy膩yik膩s of long-winded descriptions and multitudes of
extensive compounds with a jingle of alliteration and forceful
expression became models for later writers, their only wish being
to approximate to them in style. They became the byword for
perfection in prose. To be called Abhinavabha峁弓ab膩峁嘺 was the
greatest testimonial to their excellence in prose writing. So great
was the impact of these writers that their prose characterized by
abundance of compounds set the standard for it: oja岣�
sam膩sabh奴ystvam etad gadyasya jivitam.
This type of prose continued to exercise its sway down the
centuries till the onset of the last one when under the impact of
western education change in its character was discernible. There
came a new awakening with the contact with western literature
even in the tradition-bound Pandit who broke loose of the
traditional Kath膩s and Akhy膩yik膩s with their well-defined
parameters. The most perceptible change came about in fiction.
Kath膩 and Akhy膩yik膩 gave way to novel, given the Sanskrit name
'Navalik膩' by modern Sanskritists on the basis of writing called,
interstingly enough, K膩dambari in many of the regional
languages, showing the hold the old work exercises on Indian
psyche.
CC-0. Prof. Satya Vrat Shastri Collection, New Delhi. Digitized by S3 Foundation USA
