Visakhadatta or Visakhadeva is the author of Mudrarakshasa. We learn
from the Introduction to the drama that Visakhadatta was the son of
Prithu and grandson of Vatesvaradatta--a Samanta or subordinate chief
Professor Wilson was inclined to think that Maharaja Prithu might be the
Chouhan Prince Prithu Rai of Ajmir; but he himself pointed out that the
Chouhan Prince was never called Maharaja; and that the name Nateswara
Datta would present a serious difficulty in the way of identifying the
poet's father with the Chouhan Prince Prithu Rai of Ajmir. It will also
appear that the author of the drama lived in a century which is prior to
the age of Prithu Rai of Ajmir by centuries. He was in all probability a
native of Northern India. The grandson of a tributary chief and the son
of a Maharaja he was well-skilled in state-craft and made a special
study of stratagems and crooked policies; in consequence of which the
bent of his mind was mainly directed to business and did not indulge in
sentiments. The effect of it is manifest in his poetry which is
business-like and vigorous, but lacks in sweetness, beauty and the
tender emotions.
YAYATI CHARITA.
The author may possibly be Pratapa Rudra Deva, sovereign of Telingana in
the beginning of the fourteenth century.
DUTANGADA.
It is said to have been written for the yatra of Kumar Pala Deva, by
order of Tribhuvana Pala Deva, by the poet Subhata.
DHANANJAYA VIJAYA.
It is the composition of Kanchana Acharya, the son of Narayana, a
celebrated teacher of the _yoga_, of the race of Kapi Muni.
MRIGANKALEKHA.
The drama was composed by Viswanath, the son of Trimala Deva, originally
from the banks of the Godaveri, but residing at Benares, where it was
represented at the _yatra_, or festival, of Visweswara, the form under
which Siva is particularly worshipped in that city.
KAUTUKA SERVASWA.
This is a Prahasana or Farce, and is especially a satire upon princes
who addict themselves to idleness and sensuality, and fail to patronize
the Brahmans.
It was composed by a Pandit named Gopinath for representation at the
autumnal festival of the _Durga Puja_.
CHITRA YAJNA.
This heterogeneous composition is the work of a Pandit of Nadiya,
Vaidyanath Vachespati Bhattacharya, and was composed for the festival of
Govinda, by desire of Iswar Chandra, the Raja of Nadiya.
HASYARNAVA.
This comic play is a severe but grossly indelicate satire upon the
profligacy of Brahmans assuming the character of religious mendicants.
It satirizes also the encouragement given to vice by princes, the
inefficacy of ministers, and the ignorance of physicians and
astrologers.
It is the work of a Pandit named Jagaddisa, and was represented at the
vernal festival; but where, or when, it is not known.
RATNAVALI.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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