Srikrishnakirtan (Baru Chandidas) Translated by Basanta Ranjan Roy PDF.
Book Title— Srikrishnakirtan, Author— Baru Chandidas,
Edited & translated by— Basanta Ranjan Roy, Genre— Religious Books,
Book Format— PDF, Book Pages— 905,
Book size— 20 MB (Compressed),
Srikrishnakirtan by Baru Chandidas: A Reintroduction through Basanta Ranjan Roy’s Bengali Translation
Srikrishnakirtan, composed by the 14th-century Bengali poet Baru Chandidas, holds a special place in the annals of Bengali literature. This devotional verse-drama is not only one of the earliest surviving specimens of Bengali poetic tradition but also a remarkable representation of early Vaishnava bhakti in eastern India. Comprising 418 verses, the poem delves deep into the transcendental love between Radha and Krishna, blending mysticism with romantic sentiment in a form that is both lyrical and emotionally resonant.
However, the original work, written in a now-archaic dialect of Bengali, posed significant challenges for modern readers. Its unconventional spelling, syntax, and obsolete vocabulary rendered it nearly inaccessible to those unfamiliar with medieval Bengali. It was in this context that Basanta Ranjan Roy emerged as a pivotal figure in the literary revival of this forgotten masterpiece.
Basanta Ranjan Roy’s Scholarly Translation (1916)
Published in 1916 under the patronage of the Bangiya Sahitya Parishad, Roy’s edition of Srikrishnakirtan was not merely a translation — it was a scholarly resurrection. Instead of modernizing the language or adapting the text for easier consumption, Roy chose to preserve the linguistic integrity of the original. He retained the archaic spellings and syntactical structures, offering readers an authentic encounter with the text as Baru Chandidas might have intended.
What distinguished Roy’s approach was his commitment to contextualization. His edition included comprehensive commentaries, mythological references, and linguistic analyses, designed to guide readers through the complex cultural and poetic landscape of the time. As a result, Roy’s translation became an indispensable academic resource, providing the groundwork for later scholars such as Sukumar Sen and Prabodh Chandra Sen, who further explored the rhythmic and philological uniqueness of the poem.
Literary and Cultural Significance
Srikrishnakirtan is more than just a devotional text—it is a cultural artifact that reflects the emotional intensity and spiritual yearnings of the early Bhakti movement in Bengal. Through Radha’s longing and Krishna’s divine playfulness, the poem captures the intricate dynamics of love, separation (viraha), and union (milana) that have become central themes in Vaishnava literature.
Some scholars have argued that Srikrishnakirtan may even predate the Charyapadas, the Buddhist mystical verses considered the oldest Bengali poetic works. Whether or not this claim holds, the poem’s literary merit and cultural resonance remain indisputable.
Roy’s translation played a critical role in reviving scholarly and popular interest in this neglected work. It reintroduced Baru Chandidas to a modern Bengali readership and helped situate Srikrishnakirtan within the broader canon of early Indian devotional literature.
Conclusion
In translating Srikrishnakirtan, Basanta Ranjan Roy achieved more than a linguistic feat — he performed an act of cultural preservation. His dedication to authenticity, combined with thoughtful scholarship, ensured that Baru Chandidas’s voice could once again be heard, understood, and appreciated by generations to come. Today, Srikrishnakirtan stands not only as a testament to the power of divine love but also as a milestone in the history of Bengali literary evolution, thanks largely to Roy’s pioneering efforts.
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Srikrishnakirtan (Baru Chandidas) by Basanta Ranjan Roy PDF.