History of Bengali Language and Literature c5.43

c5.43

Thus the appointment of Bengali poets to the courts of Hindu Rājās, grew to be a fashion after the example of the Moslem chiefs, and we find most of the works of our best poets dedicated to the kings and noble men who patronised them. Thus the works of Vidyāpati, the Maithil poet, are inseparably associated with Çiva Simha and other sovereigns of Mithilā. Mukundarām, the immortal author of Chandī, had for his patron Bānkurā Rāi, the Rājā of Ārah-Brāhmanbhumi. Rāmeçvara who wrote the "Çivāyana" enjoyed the patronage of Yaçovanta Simha, Raja of Karnagaḍa. Ghanarām, the author of "Dharmamangal" was the recipient of many favours from Kirttī Chandra, the Raja of Burdwan, and who can think of the great poet Bhārat Chandra without remembering his great friend and patron Krisna Chandra of Navadwipa? Raja Jay Chandra employed the poet Bhabānī Dās for compiling a translation of the Rāmāyaṇa; and many other valuable Sanskrit works were translated into Bengali under the auspices of the Kings of Tippera. We shall dwell upon all these works in their proper places hereafter.