भर्तृहरिकृत शतकत्रयम्- The Satakas of Bhartrhari (Text with Hindi and English Translation)

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The Three Satakas on Niti, Srngara and Vairagya, the Vakyapadiya a grammatical commentary in terse and pithy Sanskrit prose and the Bhattikavya a Grammatical poem are the works which are generally ascribed to Bhartrhari. Almost all the scholars who have made their acquaintance with Bhartrhari and his works are unanimous in their opinion that Bhartrhari is the undisputed author of the Satakas and him Vakyapadiya which furnishes us with a certain clue to the solution of the much disputed question of Bhartrhari age and authorship.

Purohit Gopi Nath, also known as Purohit Swami Gopi Nath Ji Maharaj, was a respected spiritual leader within the Vaishnavite tradition in India. Born in 1922 and passing away in 2004, he was revered for his deep knowledge of Hindu scriptures, spiritual wisdom, and dedication to spreading the teachings of Bhakti (devotion) and Vedanta philosophy.

He attracted a large following of disciples, conducted satsangs (spiritual gatherings), and emphasized the importance of devotion, surrender to the divine, and realization of the inner self. While specific details about his authored works may not be widely available, his teachings continue to inspire spiritual seekers on their journeys toward self-realization and divine connection.

For clearness sake we shall divide our preface into the following heads:-

I. The Author-his life and writings.

II. Writers on Bhart?hari:

[A] Commentators, critics etc.

[B] Translators, and

[C] Books about Bhart?hari.

III. Works and writings wherein we find stanzas from Bhartrhari's Satakas either with any particular note or notice about them or without anything of the sort.

IV. Sequel.

V. Places of interest relating to Bhartrhari.

VI. A plea for the present edition. Following this order we shall now take them one by one in hand, and dealing separately with each give our opinion upon all of them in turn.

1. THE AUTHOR-HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS

[A] Bharthari's Life

The father of Bhartrhari is said to have been one Gandharvasena (id) who had also got a younger son Vikramaditya. Bhart?hari and Vikrama were, therefore, sons of the same father by different mothers.