magha and bharavi

Reminded of Maagha and Bharavi...

the great master poets of Sanskrit..

authors of Shishupalavadham and Kirataarjuneeyam respectively.

These two works are included in the list of the five greatest works of Sanskrit literatue, (Panchamahaakavyamm) .

The other works are Kumarasambhavam and Raghuvamsam of Kalidasa and Naishhadeeyacharitam of Sreeharsha..

In a stanza comparing the greatness of the two poets,

तावद्भा भार्वेरभाति यावद् माघस्य नोदयः उदिते तु पुनर्माघे भारवेर्भा रवेरिव

taavad bhaa bhaaraverbhaati yaavanmaaghasya nodayaH,

udite tu punarmaaghe bhaaraver bhaa raveriva

The glory of Bharavi shines only till Magha the poet became famous..

Once Magha rose in the firmament of poesy, the shine of Bharavi also became powerless like that of the sun

Maagha has another meaning, the month Magha.. corresponding almost the period Markazhi...Dhanu, the season of snow and dew..

Bhaaravi.. would also mean Bhha Ravi.. or the shine of the Sun

So when Maagha meaning the poet as also the month of Markazhi came, then Bharavi the poet or the very strong Shine of the sun became totally ineffective..

Of course, Scholars and aficionados may not agree entirely that Poet Maagha was indeed superior to Bharavi.

. But the fact remains that when Margazhi comes the sun loses its vigour..