PREFACE
In the Sanskrit Language there are a number of works which are still in the form of manuscripts. Their authors have so to say remained into oblivion because of the non-currency of their works. Some works were fortunate enough to be printed. But, the unpublished material outnumbers the published one. The majority of such unpublished works is stored in manuscript-col-lections throughout this land.
Here is an attempt to publish one such unknown and rare mahäkävya dealing with the life of Krsna from his birth upto his marriage with Rukmiņi. It is composed in the middle of the nineteenth century by Nilakantha, a Kannadiga Brahmin, who was domiciled in Maharashtra and immediately, a small commentary was written on it, that too in Pune by Vişnu Šāmarāya Ranade-a versatile scholar, scribe and collector of manuscripts. Both these works are edited together in this Book.
Their manuscripts are available in only two libraries, viz. the Bombay University Library and the Bharat Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandal Library in Pune. The present work is based on these three manuscripts as no other manuscript of any of these two works is available anywhere else, neither are they mentioned to be in existence in any of the catalogues of manuscripts. Authorities of both these Institutes were very kind to supply the xerox-copies of their manuscripts. The active co-operation of those authorities is acknowledged with gratitude.
During the course of my study, I received guidance and assistance from many scholars and well-wishers, to whom I am deeply obliged. It is difficult to mention all of them here.
First of all, I express my deep sense of gratefulness to the authorities of the Bombay University Library, especially, the Librarian, Shri A.C. Tikekar, for promptly supplying the xerox-copy of the manuscript. Secondly, it is my duty to thank the authorities of the Bharat Itihasa Samshodhaka Mandal, Pune, for
Your cart is currently empty.
