Early History of the Vaishnava Faith and Movement in Bengal, from Sanskrit and Bengali Sources c11.s5.12

c11.s5.12

The personal note, however, which makes this short poem so enjoyable, is much less in evidence in the interminable elaborate Śatakas, called collectively Vṛndāvana-mahimāmṛta,¹ which are ascribed to Prabodhānanda. The work is nothing more than a series of lavish description and reflection on the romantic associations of Vṛndāvana as the abode of Kṛṣṇa and the scene of his varied sports. It would have been a marvellous literary feat indeed if the author had fulfilled his alleged ambitious project of writing ten thousand verses in one hundred Śatakas, all on the same topic; but, as it is, the seventeen Śatakas, so far published, give us a total of 1871 stanzas composed in a large variety of metres. One need not, however, be surprised at this inexhaustible fertility, for the indomitable Sanskrit poet is inexhaustible in his resources; and to the devout mind, the charms of Vṛndāvana are inexhaustible. But literary fertility is seldom synonymous with poetical excellence; and however exuberant and amazing the devotional fancy might be, it can never dwell upon the same theme on such a minute and extended scale without producing a sense of monotony and futility. However vividly and variedly they might have been conceived by a devout mind of great affluence, a more or less abstract contemplation of the divine sports could hardly inspire the poet with the same emotional directness as his real experience and adoration of Caitanya's vital devotion. If one can leisurely wade through this long and laborious production, one will certainly come across verses, lines and phrases, richly yet elegantly expressed, some real flash and felicity of workmanship, as well as a pleasing and picturesque sensuousness of details; but the prevailing note of literary artificiality in matter and manner is unmistakable, and the modest poetic merit of the composition need not be piously exaggerated.