Vasanta Panchami (वसन्तपञ्चमी), the fifth day of the bright fortnight in the lunar month of Magha (माघ), is one of the most culturally significant days in South Asia for it signals the beginning of the Spring season. In many parts of the Subcontinent, especially in the east, this day is dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of learning, speech, and the creative arts (music and literature, in particular). In fact, so close is Saraswati's association with Spring in Bengal that her idols venerated on Vasanta Panchami are often dressed in the 'vernal' shade of yellow (Hindi: वसंती/बसंती; Bengali: বাসন্তী), although the only color sacred to her according to all scriptures and (other) traditions is white!
Below are two modern humorous verses dedicated to the goddess of learning.
(1) When Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was still a student at Sanskrit College, Calcutta, one of the many professors who took a liking to him was Joygopal Tarkalankar (জয়গোপাল তর্কালঙ্কার; जयगोपालतर्कालङ्कार) (1775-1846). On the occasion of Vasanta Panchami every year, Tarkalankar would observe Saraswati Puja with great pomp and invite his students to his house where they would be treated to lunch, dinner, and great music; on the eve of the festival, he would also urge some of his more advanced students to compose Sanskrit verses in honor of the goddess, but Ishwarchandra did not usually oblige for his lack of self-confidence (in his own words). However, after repeated requests, he ended up giving it a shot, just once. The result was a distich in a classical twelve-syllable upajAti (उपजाति, blended) meter, the first and third quarters in indravaMzA (इन्द्रवंशा) and the rest in vaMzastha (वंशस्थ), following the rules of Sanskrit grammar but liberally seasoned with Bengali vernacularisms.
Devanagari text:
Below are two modern humorous verses dedicated to the goddess of learning.
(1) When Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar was still a student at Sanskrit College, Calcutta, one of the many professors who took a liking to him was Joygopal Tarkalankar (জয়গোপাল তর্কালঙ্কার; जयगोपालतर्कालङ्कार) (1775-1846). On the occasion of Vasanta Panchami every year, Tarkalankar would observe Saraswati Puja with great pomp and invite his students to his house where they would be treated to lunch, dinner, and great music; on the eve of the festival, he would also urge some of his more advanced students to compose Sanskrit verses in honor of the goddess, but Ishwarchandra did not usually oblige for his lack of self-confidence (in his own words). However, after repeated requests, he ended up giving it a shot, just once. The result was a distich in a classical twelve-syllable upajAti (उपजाति, blended) meter, the first and third quarters in indravaMzA (इन्द्रवंशा) and the rest in vaMzastha (वंशस्थ), following the rules of Sanskrit grammar but liberally seasoned with Bengali vernacularisms.
Devanagari text:
लूची-कचूरी-मतिचूर-शोभितं
जिलेपि-सन्देश-गजा-विराजितम्|
यस्याः प्रसादेन फलारमाप्नुमः
सरस्वती सा जयतान्निरन्तरम्||
जिलेपि-सन्देश-गजा-विराजितम्|
यस्याः प्रसादेन फलारमाप्नुमः
सरस्वती सा जयतान्निरन्तरम्||
– ईश्वरचन्द्रविद्यासागर
Harvard-Kyoto transliteration:
lUcI-kacUrI-maticUra-zobhitaM
jilIpi-sandeza-gajA-virAjitam|
jilIpi-sandeza-gajA-virAjitam|
yasyAH prasAdena phalAramApnumaH
sarasvatI sA jayatAnnirantaram||
sarasvatI sA jayatAnnirantaram||
– Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar
Loose translation: Eternal glory to that Saraswati, by whose grace we receive lavish meals consisting of luchis, kachauris, motichur laddoos, jalebis, sandesh, and gajas!
Notes: This nugget of tasteful humor is evidently a nod to the sumptuous Vasanta Panchami feasts served at Tarkalankar's residence. The spellings of some of the words above, such as कचूरी, मतिचूर, and जिलेपि, are sure to raise some eyebrows; the author, who is writing for an exclusively Bengali-speaking audience, has clearly exploited the peculiarities of Bengali pronunciation and orthography to make these non-Sanskrit words fit the metrical scheme he chose. Also noteworthy is the Bengali word फलार which is derived from Sanskrit phalAhAra (फलाहार), "fruit-meal", and denotes a lacto-vegetarian meal devoid of rice, ritually served to a Brahmin.
Notes: This nugget of tasteful humor is evidently a nod to the sumptuous Vasanta Panchami feasts served at Tarkalankar's residence. The spellings of some of the words above, such as कचूरी, मतिचूर, and जिलेपि, are sure to raise some eyebrows; the author, who is writing for an exclusively Bengali-speaking audience, has clearly exploited the peculiarities of Bengali pronunciation and orthography to make these non-Sanskrit words fit the metrical scheme he chose. Also noteworthy is the Bengali word फलार which is derived from Sanskrit phalAhAra (फलाहार), "fruit-meal", and denotes a lacto-vegetarian meal devoid of rice, ritually served to a Brahmin.
Source: Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar's Sanskrita Rachana (সংস্কৃত রচনা; संस्कृतरचना), "compositions in Sanskrit", 1888 edition.
(2) This snippet was not composed on the occasion of Saraswati Puja, but I think it is quite relevant.
Devanagari text:
Devanagari text:
न मेऽस्ति विद्या न तथास्ति मेधा
न वास्ति बुद्धिः प्रतिभोज्ज्वला च|
मन्दः परीक्षार्णवमुत्तरीतुं
देवीं गिरां स्वां जननीं च वन्दे||
न वास्ति बुद्धिः प्रतिभोज्ज्वला च|
मन्दः परीक्षार्णवमुत्तरीतुं
देवीं गिरां स्वां जननीं च वन्दे||
– अलोकनाथन्यायभूषण
Harvard-Kyoto transliteration:
na me(a)sti vidyA na tathAsti medhA
na vAsti buddhiH pratibhojjvalA ca|
na vAsti buddhiH pratibhojjvalA ca|
mandaH parIkSArNavamuttarItuM
devIM girAM svAM jananIM ca vande||
devIM girAM svAM jananIM ca vande||
– Alokanatha Nyayabhushana
Loose translation: I am devoid of learning, (the) mental acuity (needed to acquire it), and intellectual brilliance. Hence, being a dimwit, I have (no choice but to) sing the praises of the goddess of speech and my own mother just to be able to get across the ocean of examinations.
Source: Prefatory benediction of Vidaya-Vidyalaya (বিদায়-বিদ্যালয়; विदाय-विद्यालय), "a farewell address to the college", by Alokanatha Nyayabhushana, Late Senior Scholar and Head Pandit, Calcutta Government Sanskrit College, published on June 25, 1902.
Notes: If you were to think that this is not a composition of the best quality, I would probably agree with you. But I still like it for it is so easy to relate to! The author, a recently retired academic, is evidently having a laugh at his students to whom this piece is addressed; but this verse, perhaps inadvertently, also calls attention to a procrustean education system that places too much emphasis on scores secured in certain examinations, forcing many students to rely solely on prayers and the blessings of their elders.
Source: Prefatory benediction of Vidaya-Vidyalaya (বিদায়-বিদ্যালয়; विदाय-विद्यालय), "a farewell address to the college", by Alokanatha Nyayabhushana, Late Senior Scholar and Head Pandit, Calcutta Government Sanskrit College, published on June 25, 1902.
Notes: If you were to think that this is not a composition of the best quality, I would probably agree with you. But I still like it for it is so easy to relate to! The author, a recently retired academic, is evidently having a laugh at his students to whom this piece is addressed; but this verse, perhaps inadvertently, also calls attention to a procrustean education system that places too much emphasis on scores secured in certain examinations, forcing many students to rely solely on prayers and the blessings of their elders.
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