पृष्ठम्:भट्टिकाव्यम्.pdf/१८

vi11 t BHATIKAVYA sublime) and is unanimously applauded as the highest limit of manly excellence (Maryada-pursottama). Naturally, the principal sentiment is Heroism to which tPathos' (Karupa) and Eros in separation’ (Kipralambha-Sagara) are the main subservients, along with other sentiments which occur occasion. ally. The work indirectly preaches the ideals to be followed by a son, a brother, a wife and a friend. As such it is certainly caturvarga-phalayatta ; moreover, the biography of a human incarnation of Visnu inevitably serves the purpose of spiritual upliftment (noksa), the fourth and the highest parayartha Vivid, lively and colourful descriptions of men, nature and places, as well as of incidents in human life , are an essential feature of an art epic and the Bhattiyya is no exception to this rule, though Bhattis descriptions are generally very short. An art epic is expected to be named either after the author, the narrative content or the hero ; the various titles of our epic conform to one or the other of these options, Bhattikaya after the author,Ramacarita after the hero and Ravanapadha after the narrative content Descriptions As already pointed out, descriptions of the various facades of life and nature, an inevitable characteristic of an art epic, are not wanting in the Bhattikaya either. The Second canto begins with a brief but beautiful description of Autumn (II. 1–6), though there is no such description in the Valmiki-Ramayana. This short pen picture introduced by Bhatti, apart from being original, is very lively and colourful with its dancing creepers, serene rivers, bloominglotusbedshumming bees, glittering lakes and rich tree groves. Canto VII. 1-3 begins with a short description of the rainy season. Bharadva ja's hermitage, briefly described in Canto II. 24-26 and III. 40-43, presents a sublime picture of the sages reciting hymns and offering oblations, as well as pupils taking lessons and giving a helping hand in household work, birds and beasts moving about gleefully in fearfree confidence, as well as the trees and creepers fondly nurtured with soft parental affection. Picturesque descriptions of dense dark jungles (II. 7-20) and the vast roaring ocean