Who's a Poet?
Rao Veluri (rveluri@smtpgate.anl.gov)
Wed, 28 May 97 16:49:04 CST
While dusting off some of the old boxed and buried
beautiful classics, I have recovered a few fried and
browned pages from kaavyaalankaara sangraha
by raamaraajabhushaNa with the expert commentary
by SirOmaNi sannidhaanam sooryanaaraayaNa
saastri. Sree saastri's comments are sharp bullets!
While talking about who makes a vidvat kavi('scholar-poet')
Sree Saastri doesn't mince words. Freely quoting from
raajasEkhara's kaavya meemaamsa, he peps up his commentary
by citing a popular saying:
"vidvat kavaya@h kavaya@h
kEvala kavayastu kEvalam kapaya@h"
(I believe the meaning is quite clear!)
Further, a vidvat kavi is 'defined' as one who has
pratibha ('poetic imagination') and vyutpatti
('traditional erudition').
And, Sree Saastri quips:
aa.ve. guruvu laghuvu cEsi kumcimci kumcimci
laghuvu guruvu cEsi laagi laagi
kavita ceppunaTTi kavigulaamu baTTi
mukku kOyavalayu drokki paTTi
His erudite commentary (over 50 years old) is so
scathing that I would think more than twice before
I ever try to compose another 'verse.'
Finally, I would always remind myself with the following:
"naakavitva-madharmaaya mRtayE damDanaaya ca
kukavitvam punassaakshaa smRtimaahur-maneeshiNam."
If one can't become a poet, it is no sin. A human being
doesn't die, if he doesn't become a poet. The rulers
will not punish those who do not become poets. But,
to become a 'kukavi' is nothing but death!
Regards.
V R "always finding an excuse for not versifying" Veluri