रत्नावली नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - शास्त्रीय नाटिका रत्न सम्पूर्ण ४ अङ्क सान्वय सटीक)

Ratnavali Act I Notes P. 1. महाकवि श्रीहर्षविरचिता—Apart from Harsha being a great ruler he was a great poet who wrote three dramas namely Ratnávali, Priyadars'iká and Nágánanda. The first two of these mutually correspond in their subject-matter, but as regards the third Shri Harsha wrote it with a Buddhistic tinge when in the last stage of his life he was inclined towards Buddhism. But the subject-matters of these three dramas are found in the Kathásaritságara of Somadeva. That Shri Harsha was a great poet and that he apart from his royal duties found diversion in the cultivation of poetry is testified by Jayadeva who puts him along with other great poets. Cf. “यस्याश्चोरश्चिकुरनिकरः कर्णपूरो मयूरो भासो हासः कविकुलगुरुः कालिदासो विलासः । हर्षो हर्षः हृदयवसतिः पञ्चबाणस्तु बाणः केषां नैषा कथय कविताकामिनी कौतुकाय ॥” रत्नावली—The name of the Drama after the name of the heroine or according to some scholars after the jewel-necklace that play a prominent part in the recognition of the heroine. रत्नावलीम् अधिकृत्य कृता नाटिका इति रत्नावली + अण् by the rule ‘अधिकृत्य कृते ग्रन्थे’ and the suffix अण् is elided by the rule ‘लुबाख्यायिकाभ्यो बहुलम् ।’ आख्यायिका here means all sorts of compositions in general. Then begin the Nándi Shlokas for a good finis of the work in accordance with the traditional practice of the Sanskrit play-