A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar c19.s4.19

c19.s4.19

The reign of Krishnadeva Rāya was a glorious epoch in literature as in politics, war and art. The monarch was himself no mean scholar and poet, and the impetus he gave to Telugu literature lasted far beyond his time. Under his lead the practice of translating from Sanskrit originals was generally given up and independent Prabandhas which handled a purāṇic story or some invented theme after the manner of a Mahākāvya in Sanskrit came more into vogue. The earlier Prabandhas were marked by originality, variety, freedom and grace of matter and style; but in course of time in the hands of lesser poets the Prabandha tended to degenerate into stereotyped and monotonous forms which observed the formal rules of rhetoric, but fell far short of true literature.