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Vasant Vijay

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Vasant Vijay
by Manishankar Ratnji Bhatt 'Kant'
Original titleવસંતવિજય
First published inPurvalap (1923)
CountryBritish India
LanguageGujarati
FormKhandakavya
Metervarious Sanskrit meters

Vasant Vijay (The Triumph of the Spring) is a narrative poem that was written by Indian poet Manishankar Ratnji Bhatt 'Kant' (1867–1923), who was popularly known as Kavi Kant.

Summary

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Vasant Vijay includes a reference to Pandu, the mythical father of the five Pandavas in the Indian epic poem Mahabharata.[1] Vasant Vijay narrates an episode from the Adi Parva (The Book of the Beginning) of Mahabharata.[2]

Pandu kills a mating deer, for which he is cursed to undergo a similar death. Pandu tries to get rid of the curse by observing celibacy but under the profound influence of spring, he loses his self-control and has sex with his wife Madri, who is hesitant, knowing its fatal consequence.[1]

In Vasant Vijay, Kant narrates the episode in a dramatic manner in a classical, metrical style. The triumph of spring symbolises the triumph of lust and the destiny of the human predicament.[1]

Reception

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According to Mansukhlal Jhaveri, Vasant Vijay, along with Kant's other poems Chakravak Mithuna and Devayani, is a remarkable example of the arts of Khandakavya that set up a standard of high poetical excellence in Gujarati.[3][4] The poem is noted for its metrical pattern and the resulting sound effect, and for its emotional depth.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c George, K. M., ed. (1997). Masterpieces of Indian Literature. Vol. 3. New Delhi: National Book Trust. p. 1694. ISBN 978-81-237-1978-8.
  2. ^ a b Shukla, Jaydev (1986). Khaṇḍakāvya ખંડકાવ્ય. Sahitya Swarup Paricaya Shrenni – 7 (in Gujarati). Ahmedabd: Chandramauli Prakashan. pp. 46–52. OCLC 15657273.
  3. ^ Jhaveri, Mansukhlal Maganlal (1978). History of Gujarati Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 112. OCLC 639128528.
  4. ^ Das, Sisir Kumar (2005). History of Indian Literature: 1800–1920, Western Impact: Indian Response. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 316. ISBN 978-81-7201-006-5.
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