Page:History of Bengali Language and Literature.djvu/271

This page needs to be proofread.

IV. ] BENGALI LANGUAGE & LITERATURE. 235 [t should be said that the description of Ardha- narigwar given from the peom of Yadunath does not occur in the original Chandi by the sage Markandeya. The next translati i was e ranslation of Chandi was from the Chandi by pen of Kamalanarayana, a son of Yadunath. This Kamalana- এ, ‘ rayana poem contains many passages which are truly 1717 A.D. poetic. 16 was written about the year 1717. The Mahammadan Governor of Bengal to whom he refers in his book was probably Saha Suja, son of the Mogal Emperor Saha Jaban. The translations of other works such as Padma- Other vata by Alaol and Gitagovinda by Rasamaya and fee রা ee ions, Giridhar, do not fall within the scope of the Pauranic Renaissance, so we shall refer to them in a future chapter. The writers of the works, dealt with in this chapter, চা? asl have already said, 828 58478 the plan of literal translation ; that would have given tions

17112 : stamped

them only a literary interest. The translations were with origi- reproductions of ancient ideas with modern accre- nality. tion of thought, meant to act asa living force for the element of philosophical interpretation was an in- the education and ennoblement of the people,

novation which gave them a stamp of originality peculiar to the Bengali genius. 3. The conception of Givain the Renaissance and Songs in honour of him, The later form of Caiva-literature contains the The later

iy : : Caiva-liter-

leading characteristics of the Renaissance period, ature. though it lost a good deal of its importance as the songs of Civa no longer formed the main theme ol