On another occasion I was walking on the Shankara Matha street from the south of Shankarapuram. An assembly had gathered in the front verandah of the Shankara Matha. It was around 10 or 11 in the morning. Both Chappalli Visweshwara Sastri and Motaganahalli Shankara Sastri were present. I joined the gathering. Sri Chappalli Visweshwara Sastri said:
এমন কিছু মানুষ থাকেন যাঁদের বয়সের সাথে পূর্ণতা লাভ করার প্রয়োজন পড়েনা, জন্মের সাথে সাথেই যাঁরা সম্পূর্ণ, আত্মজ্ঞানে পরিপূর্ণ। আন্তর বিবর্তন ও মানসিক বৃদ্ধি তাঁদের নিষ্প্রয়োজন, কারণ তাঁরা ইতিমধ্যেই বিবর্তিত। কৃষ্ণ হলেন তাঁদেরই একজন। শৈশবাবস্থার কৃষ্ণলীলা আমাদের সবিস্তারে পরিচিত হলেও, তাঁর তৎকালীন চিন্তাধারা আমাদের অবগত নয়। আমরা যেটুকু বুঝতে পারি সেটা হচ্ছে, তিনি ছিলেন এমন একজন মানুষ যিনি শৈশবাবস্থা থেকেই সকল উত্থান-পতন কে জীবনের অঙ্গ হিসেবে মেনে নিয়েছিলেন। ভালমন্দ সমেত জীবনকে সাদরে গ্রহণ করেছিলেন (ভ.গী. ২.৫০)।
Prince Uttara, adorned with garlands and fragrant perfumes, came in a procession on the royal path; he greeted the citizens of the city and the married woman, receiving their blessings and adoration. In great grandeur and filled with delight, he came to the door of the palace and brought the good news to his father. The doorkeeper-sentinels rushed inside and told King Virāṭa, “Mahārāja!
ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ಭಾರತೀಯರ ಪ್ರಕಾರ ವಸ್ತು ಮತ್ತು ಅದನ್ನು ಕುರಿತಾದ ಜ್ಞಾನಗಳ ಪೈಕಿ ಜ್ಞಾನವೇ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಸತ್ಯವಾದುದೆಂದು ಭಟ್ಟರು ಭಾವಿಸುತ್ತರೆ (ಪು. ೭೭). ಇದು ಈಚಿನ ಅನೇಕಚಿಂತಕರು ಎತ್ತಿಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಮತ. ವಿಶೇಷತಃ ನವಭಾರತೀಯದಾರ್ಶನಿಕರು ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ ಇಂಥ ಅಭಿಪ್ರಾಯವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಮಾತ್ರವಲ್ಲ, ಈ ವಾದವು ಬುದ್ಧಿಜೀವಿಗಳಿಗೆ ತುಂಬ ಆಕರ್ಷಕವೂ ಹೌದು; ಮತ್ತಿದು ಅದೆಷ್ಟೋ ಮಂದಿ ಮುಗ್ಧರಾದ ಪ್ರಾಮಾಣಿಕರು ಒಪ್ಪುವಂಥದ್ದೂ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ನಿರ್ವಿಶೇಷವಾದ ಸಾರ್ವತ್ರಿಕಾನುಭವದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಂಡಾಗ ಇದು ಸತ್ಯವಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಯದಿರದು. ವಸ್ತುತಃ ಭಟ್ಟರ ಈ ನಿಲವು ಬೌದ್ಧರ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನವಾದವೇ ಆಗಿದೆ. ಇದೊಂದು ಬಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥೂಲಾಧ್ವೈತವೆನ್ನಬೇಕು.
Among the yesteryear scholars of Kannada literature I know, the most extraordinary ones are S G Narasimhacharya, R Narasimhacharya, M A Ramanuja Iyengar, and Devashikhamani Alasingacharya.
I think I first saw S G Narasimhacharya in 1906–07. I knew him by name before I met him. I had read some of his writings in textbooks. His translations of segments of Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa into Kannada poems set to the śaṭpadi meter were exceedingly beautiful. I was mesmerized by the elegance of the words and the richness of emotions of many of his poems.
B.M. Srikantaiah was one of the members of the youth club of Srirangapattana. Other prominent members of the club were Vice Chancellor N.S. Subba Rao, Advocate M.G. Varadacharya, Professor Annaaji, Engineer Venkata Subba Rao and Forest Conservator Narasimhaiah.
There were two prominent features of that club: (1) Mutual friendship, (2) Admonishing any outsider who would oppose any member of the club.
Annaji: “Our Subbu’s writing is so articulate!”
Subbu: “I am nothing before Srikantaiah”
Srikantaiah: “Eloquence means M.G. Such a beautiful style!”
As lecturer of Sanskrit Literature at the Central College, Sri Chappalli Visweshwara Sastri earned the gratitude and respect of numerous students. His recitation of poetry didn’t have the sweetness of music because he didn’t have a melodious voice. But the style of his expository commentary was illuminative. He would split each word, explain its origin using examples and then drive home the intent and the feeling of the poet thereby. There’s no greater help to the student than this.
With great delight Arjuna looked at the Kaurava heroes retreating; he bowed his head down and offered his greetings to Grandfather Bhīṣma and Ācārya Droṇa and rode with them for some distance, engaging in casual conversation. Then he paid his respects to Aśvatthāma, Kṛpa, and others by hurling an arrow at them [at their feet]; then he shot an arrow at Duryodhana’s bejewelled crown and tore it apart.
In the history of the revival of Kannada literature, a few Europeans are among those who ought to be remembered with reverence. Antique jewels of (Kannada) literature were initially brought to light by these venerable Europeans. A few distinguished names among them are Reeve, Garrett, Kittel, Rice, Ziegler. Some of them came as here as Christian missionaries. A few others came as employees of the Government’s Education Department.