Gita Govinda -Jayadeva 30

Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami

Act One : sämoda dämodaraù

The Delighted Captive of Love

Verse 4

Commentary

Shri Jayadeva has politely introduced himself as the emperor of bards who glorify the lotus feet of Padmävaté Shrimaté Rädhäräëé. Continuing in the same selfdeprecating mood, he contrasts the deep significance and maturity of his own composition with the worthless mundane achievements of other poets. There were six famous scholars in the royal assembly of Mahäräja Lakñmaëa Sena: (1) The poet Umäpatidhara was the counsellor of King Lakñmaëa Sena. He only knew how to develop his message by elaborating on details. Thus linguistic and semantic sweetness were absent from his writing. Although his compositions flourished into many branches and sub-branches, he could not make them acceptable. Since his poetry is not particularly heart-warming, it is confined to the category of descriptive writing. (2) The poet Çaraëa was renowned for his ability to quickly compose enigmatic verses. Although he was popular, his writing contained defects such as güòhärthatva, the employment of expressions that were cryptic to the point of being unintelligible. Attributes such as prasäda guëa were also absent from his works. (3) Govardhanäcärya was the third pandit in the assembly of Lakñmaëa Sena. His power of literary expression was flawless. Çåìgära is the ultimate stage in the sequential development of rasa. No one could compete with Äcärya Govardhana in his portrayal of the ordinary hero and heroine who are the shelter of that rasa. However, he could not describe the other rasas. (4) The poet Çrutidhara was famous for his ability to commit any com position to memory after hearing it but once. (4) Dhoyé Kavi was commonly known as Kaviräja, the king of scholars. Although he was exceptionally well-versed in literature, he could not compose original poetry of his own. (6) The sixth poet in the assembly of Lakñmaëa Sena was Shri Jayadeva. The perfection of language is achieved only in descriptions of the name, form, qualities and pastimes of Bhagavän, as confirmed by Shri Närada, tad vägvisargo janatägha viplavo. This method of flawless composition was known only to Shri Jayadeva.