Bhallaṭaśataka is a collection of one hundred poems written in Sanskrit by the poet Bhallaṭa. The poems in the collection explore a wide range of themes related to human experience, including love, nature, the passage of time, and the ups and downs of life. The collection is notable for its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, as well as its lyrical quality. The poems are characterized by their emotional depth, and their themes are universal and enduring. Bhallaṭaśataka has had a lasting impact on Sanskrit literature and continues to be celebrated and studied to this day.
Bhallaṭaśataka is a collection of one hundred poems, each consisting of four verses (quatrains), written in Sanskrit by the poet Bhallaṭa. The poems explore a wide range of themes related to the human experience, including love, nature, time, and the fragility of life. Some of the poems are romantic in nature and explore the joys and sorrows of love, while others contemplate the fleeting nature of existence and the inevitability of aging and death. Each poem in the collection stands on its own as a self-contained work of art, but taken together, they offer a panoramic view of the beauty, complexity, and fragility of human existence.
Bhallaṭaśataka is a unique work of Sanskrit literature due to its focus on the full spectrum of human emotions and experience. The collection is notable for its nuanced exploration of universal themes such as love, nature, and the passage of time, as well as its use of vivid imagery and lyrical language. Bhallaṭa's poetry reflects a deep sensitivity to the human condition, and his exploration of the joys and sorrows of life is both profound and moving. The collection is also notable for its enduring influence on Sanskrit literature and its continuing relevance to contemporary readers.
Hey, sea! The stones in you are the precious gems, the great Vishnu himself the waterman, the auspicious Lakshmi herself is your daughter, the sands are the pearls figure, the algae are the coral vines, the water is the nectar figure, and the kalpa trees everywhere on the shore! Even though your name is Ratnākara, your thoughts are a pleasure to listen to, but you do not even have the ability to hide the thirst of one who comes to you thirsty.
2. आबद्धकृत्रिमसटाजटिलांसभित्तिः आरोपितो मृगपतेः पदवीं यदि श्वा ।
मत्तेभकुम्भतटपाटनलम्पटस्य नादं करिष्यति कथं हरिणाधिपस्य ॥ [भल्लटशतकम् – ६६]
ābaddhakṛtrimasaṭājaṭilāṃsabhittiḥ āropito mṛgapateḥ padavīṃ yadi śvā ।
mattebhakumbhataṭapāṭanalampaṭasya nādaṃ kariṣyati kathaṃ hariṇādhipasya ॥ [bhallaṭaśatakam – 66]
Just because a stamen is tied around a dog's neck, it cannot rise to the rank of a lion and can not roar like Mṛgarāja to tear apart a tamed elephant.