Biographical Sketches of Dekkan Poets/Potaraju

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3294367Biographical Sketches of Dekkan Poets — PotarajuCavelly Venkata Ramaswamie

POTARAJU.


This poet was of the Bommana family, and flourished in the thirteenth century of Salivahana. During his infancy, he composed a great many hymns and anthems in honor of the god Sri Ram, and it is said, that he was inspired by that deity to translate the Bhagavat into Telugu and commanded to dedicate the work to him, and the god promised to aid him in the undertaking. Thus encouraged by the divinity, Potaraju translated twelve volumes of the Bhagavat. It is said, that when he was employed on the tenth volume, entitled Dasamamaskanda he had commenced the description of the beautiful virgin Rukmini, and came to the following, words which he wrote down:—"Pandr Bala Kamre," which bears a double interpretation in one sense, meaning that the virgin Rukmini had attained twelve years of age, and in another signification implying, that she was burned—having written these words, it is said, the poet went to a neighbouring pool to bathe, and his infant daughter, who was crawling on the floor, immediately fell into a fire. hearth. The God Sriram on this instantaneously descended, and snatching up the paper, completed the verse, which the poet had left unfinished by adding these words, "Nelata Kevanambeu Nindi Unde" or the virgin attained to full maturity—and it is said, that immediately the child came out of the fire-hearth, without being scorched or burnt in the least degree—when Potaraj returned home, he heard what had happened, and seeing the stanza that he had left unfinished, quite completed, he praised Sri Ram, through whose interposition this miracle had been effected. Although Potaraj was in distressed circumstances, and wanting even the necessaries of life, he never debased himself by any mercenary dedications of his effusions to any mortal, and despised his brother-in-law Srinath, because he paid his court to the Prince of the Rediwar family by whom he was retained. This poet lived to a good old age, but no authentic accounts of his death has reached posterity.