213. 212 HISTORY OF SANSKRIT POETICS

212 HISTORY OF SANSKRIT POETICS

the crest-jewel of Maharastra, that he was the son of शीलवती and of दुढ़क (or दरिक). In the बालरामायण I. 13 we are told that in his family (which was called यायावरकुल) were born great men such as भकालजलद, सुरानन्द, तरल, कविराज and several others. In the बालरामायण (I. 16) and बालभारत (I. 12) the same verse occurs, in which he claims to have been वाल्मीकि, मेएठ and भवभूति in his former lives.1 He is spoken of as the son of a great minister in the Prastāvana of the Bālabharata drama, otherwise called Pracandapandava, (उककं हि तेनव महासुमन्त्रिपुत्रेष 'यशः प्रसूते विपदो रुणद्धि यशांसि दुग्धे मलिनं प्रमार्टि। I.9). His wife was अरवन्तिसुन्दरी who came from the Cahuana (modern Cavan) family. She was an accomplished lady and her views are quoted by her husband in the काव्यमीमांसा (on pp.20, 46, 57). It was at her desire that the Prakrit drama (described as Sattaka) कप रमन्जरी was repre- sented on the stage. In the बालरामायय (I. 12) reference is made to his six works.3 Therefore, it is clear that the बालरामायण was composed by him when he was somewhat mature in years. In the कपरमब्जरी it is stated that अपराजित, author of मृगाक्कलेखा, spoke of him as बालकवि, कविराज and the teacher of king निर्भर and that in this way he attained eminent4 positions one after another. At the end of the first chapter (p. 2) he describes himself as यायावरीय राजशोखर and states that he summarized the views of sages and expounded the काव्यमीमांसा for the benefit of poets. Hence, there can be no doubt that the काव्यमीमांसा was composed by the same man that composed the four dra-

the विद० (I. प्रस्तावना) we have 'यायावरेश दौहिकिना कविराजरेखरेण विरचिताया विद्शालभब्जिकानामनाटिकाया:' and 'किमात्थ तदकालजलदस्य प्रणप्त: &c.' 1. वभूव वल्मीकभवः कविः पुरा ततः प्रपदे भुवि भर्तमेएठताम्। स्थितः पुनर्यों भवभूतिरेखया स वर्तते संप्रति राजशेखरः॥ बालरा. I.16; बालभारत I. 12. 2. चाहुभणकुलमउलिमालि राजसेहरकइन्द्रगेहियी। भत्तयो किदिमवन्ति- सन्दरी सा पउंजइदमेदमिच्छदि॥ कपरमन्जरी I. 10 (of Dr.Ghosh's edition). 3. यबस्ति स्वस्ति तुम्यं भव पठनरुचिविद्धि नः षट प्रबन्धान्। 3rd pada in बालरा. I. 12 (K.M. ed.). 4. वशयादो ज्जेव तक्कालकईरं मज्फम्मि मभक्लेहाकहाकारेय भवराइपण। जधा-बालकई कहराभो खिम्मरराभस्स तह उवल्फाओ। इह जस्स पपहि परम्पराय माहप्पमारूढं ।। कपर० I. 8. According to his own statements in the काव्यमी. p. 19 कबिराज is higher in status than even a महाकवि.