Meitei translations and literary adaptations of the Mahabharata

The Mahabharata is one of the epics of Sanskrit literature that is translated as well as literarily adapted into Meitei language (officially called Manipuri), thereby creating a space for Hindu literature within the granary of Meitei literature (Manipuri literature).

Not to be confused with Manipura (Mahabharata).
Meitei Mahabharata
Manipuri Mahabharata
Meitei transliteration of the word "Mahabharat"
Information
ReligionManipuri Vaishnavism
LanguageMeitei language (officially called Manipuri)
Period18th century AD

As Meitei language uses both Meitei script as well as Eastern Nagari script (Bengali script), the literary works are written in either of the two scripts.

History

Parikshit (Saka 1647/1725 AD)

Meitei King Pamheiba (Persian: Garib Niwaj[lower-alpha 1]), after being converted into Hinduism from Sanamahism (traditional Meitei religion) by Guru Gopaldas, composed the Parikshit, an episode of the Mahabharata epic in Meitei language. Because this part of the story was the most appealing to him personally. In the introduction to the literary work, the text says that the story of Parikshit was rewritten by the Meitei king, "Sri Garib Niwaj", also known also as "Sri Sri Gopal Singh", in the Hindu year "Saka 1647". The work was actually a translation of a Bengali literary work History of Bengali Language and Literature by Gangadas Sen into Meitei language. Later, the Meitei version was retouched by Angom Gopi.[1][2][3]

The yagna performed by the sages to kill Takshak, the slayer of King Parikshit, engaged by Parikshit's son, King Janmejoy (Janamejaya). The plan got flopped due to the intervention of Indra giving asylum to Takshak, and Indrani's lamentation to Indra's situation of risking his own life.

Indra gave asylum to Takshak, the murderer of King Parikshit, for which Parikshit's son, King Janmejoy (Janamejaya) engaged sage Kashyap in a yagna, thereby dragging the snake into the ritual fire.[4]

In the city of Hastina when the sages continuously performed yagna with the proffer of ghee to fire, both earth and heaven were shaken like earthquake and Indra began to suffer on account of it. Because of the irresistible force of the incantations, Indra along with the snake was dragged down from the throne and after hovering for some time in the open sky both of them were flung down towards earth.

— "Parikshit", Sri Garibniwaj[5]

In the next scene, Indra, being the asylum giver to Takshak, was also dragged along with Takshak, and remained suspended in the midst of thick smoke over the burning flames of the yagna.[6]

O God of heaven! Why are you so generous?
All the divine pleasures are of nought now. ...
If I am separated from you.
.... I can no longer enjoy this life
And will destroy myself by jumping
into the burning pyre.

— Goddess Indrani lamenting in the "Parikshit", Sri Garibniwaj[7]

Seeing goddess Indrani's grief of her husband's life at risk, sage Astik felt pity and refrained King Janmejoy from taking extreme steps in taking others' life.[8]

O Great Janmejoy, the slayer of your father, Takshak the snake king remains perched round the neck of the Lord of heaven and because of the power of the spell, He has been pulled down with the snake. So he cannot die for no fault of His.

— Sage Astik telling King Janmejoy in the "Parikshit", Sri Garibniwaj[9]

However, King Janmejoy, who was firm and unrelenting, to avenge his father's death, was unwilling to give up.[10]

The performance of yagna has no value if Takshak's life cannot be taken. He must definitely die to avenge the death of my father. Therefore, the invocative offering must be done both in the name of Takshak and Indra and let both of them perish together. If anybody gives protection to the murderer of my father, he too deserves death.

— The words of King Janmejoy in the "Parikshit", Sri Garibniwaj[11]

Virat Santhuplon (Saka 1702/1780 AD)

The Virat Santhuplon (Meitei for 'Virata Parva') is a Meitei translation of the Bengali work by Ramkrishna Das. The translation work was done by the Meitei prince Nabananda when the Meitei capital city was situated at Langthabal (Meitei for 'Canchipur'). The Cheitharol Kumbaba mentioned that the prince was formally made the heir apparent when his father Ching-Thang Khomba ascended the throne of Manipur Kingdom when Ching-Thang Khomba's elder brother Gourashyam died in "Saka 1685". Prince Nanananda spent around two months in the woods for carrying out a royal task of cutting down large trees for preparing race-boats (Meitei: Hiyang Hiren). During those days of his stay in the forests, as a part of his leisure hours, he did the translation work on the part of the Mahabharata epic.[12][13] The introduction to the Meitei work says the following:

On Monday, the 5th waxing day of Wakching (Magh-Pousha), Saka 1702, the story of the Mahabharata related to Janmejoy and composed with skill by Ramkrishna Das was rendered into Meiteilon (Manipuri) by the young Yubaraj Sri Nabananda. It was then given shape by Wāhengbam Madhabram and Mayengbam Brindavan.[14]

Unlike other Meitei literary works on Hinduism, this text is free from the usual mixing of the words of Indo Aryan languages.[15]

List

Works of Kalachand Shastri
Further information: List of Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize winners for Meitei

Kalachand Singh Shastri translated 37 volumes of the Mahabharata into Meitei language, for which he was bestowed the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award for translation.[16]

Title(s) Meitei transliteration Eastern Nagari transliteration Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat Aadi Parba Ahanba Tangkhai ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯑꯥꯗꯤ ꯄꯔꯕ ꯑꯍꯥꯟꯕ ꯇꯪꯈꯥꯏ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত আদি পর্ব অহান্বা তংখাই Shastri, Kalachand 1956 [17]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat Aadi Parba Aroiba Tangkhai ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯑꯥꯗꯤ ꯄꯔꯕ ꯑꯔꯣꯏꯕ ꯇꯪꯈꯥꯏ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত আদি পর্ব অরোইবা তংখাই Shastri, Kalachand 1956 [18]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 9suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯹ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 9সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1962 [19]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 11suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯱ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 11সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1963 [20]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 12suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯲ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 12সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1963 [21]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 13 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯳ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 13সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1965 [22]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 14 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯴ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 14সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1967 [23]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 15 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯵ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 15সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1967 [24]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 16 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯶ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 16সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1968 [25]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 19 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯱꯹ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 19সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1973 [26]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 20 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯰ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 20সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1975 [27]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 21 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯱ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 21সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1976 [28]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 22 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯲ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 22সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1977 [29]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 23 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯳ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 23সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1979 [30]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 25 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯵ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 25সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1982 [31]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 28 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯸ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 28সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1989 [32]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 29 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯲꯹ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 29সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand - [33]
Manipuri Mahabharat 32 Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯳꯲ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 32 খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1999 [34]
Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 39 Suba Khanda ꯑꯣꯡ ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯳꯹ꯁꯨꯕ ꯈꯟꯗ ওং মণিপুরী মহাভারত 39সুবা খন্ড Shastri, Kalachand 1989 [35]

Works of Manisana Sharma
Title(s) Meitei transliteration Eastern Nagari transliteration Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
Mahabharatkee Maniratna ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠꯀꯤ ꯃꯅꯤꯔꯠꯅ মহাভারতকী মণিরত্ন Manisana Sharma 1960 [36]

Works of Ayekpam Syamsunder
Title(s) Meitei transliteration Eastern Nagari transliteration Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
Shamlappa Mahabharat ꯁꯝꯂꯞꯄ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ সম্লপ্পা মহাভারত Singh, Ayekpam Syamsunder 1964 [37]

Works of Ningthoujam Haridas Singh
Title(s) Meitei transliteration Eastern Nagari transliteration Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
Manipurda Linariba Warigi Mahabharat Aadiparbagi Prirbadh ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯗꯥ ꯂꯤꯅꯔꯤꯕꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯑꯥꯗꯤ ꯄꯔꯕꯒꯤ ꯄ꯭ꯔꯕꯟꯙ মণিপুরদা লিনরিবা রাগীগী মহাভারত আদি পরবাগী প্রবন্ধ Ningthoujam Haridas Singh 1976 [38]
Manipurda Linariba Wareegee Mahabharat Sabhapraba Tritiyardh ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯗꯥ ꯂꯤꯅꯔꯤꯕꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ ꯁꯚꯥꯄ꯭ꯔꯕꯥ ꯇ꯭ꯔꯤꯇꯤꯌꯥꯔꯙ মণিপুরদা লিনরিবা ৱারীগী মহাভারত সভাপ্রবা তৃতীয়ার্ধ Singh, Haridas Ningthoujam 1984 [39]
Manipurda Linariba Wareegee Mahabharat Banpraba Amasung Biratappraba ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯗꯥ ꯂꯤꯅꯔꯤꯕꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ (ꯕꯅꯄꯔꯕꯥ ꯑꯃꯁꯨꯡ ꯕꯤꯔꯥꯠꯄꯔꯕꯥ) মণিপুরদা লিনরিবা রারিগী মহাভারত (বন পর্ব অমসুং বিরাৎ পর্ব) Singh, Haridas Ningthoujam 1989 [40]

Works of Aheibam Dhananjay
Title(s) Meitei transliteration Eastern Nagari transliteration Author(s) Year of publication Note(s)
Manipurda Leenariba Wareegee Mahabharat Bhisma Parva ꯃꯅꯤꯄꯨꯔꯗꯥ ꯂꯤꯅꯔꯤꯕꯥ ꯋꯥꯔꯤꯒꯤ ꯃꯍꯥꯚꯥꯔꯠ (ꯚꯤꯁ꯭ꯃ ꯄꯔꯚ) মণিপুরদা লীনরিবা বারীগী মহাভারত (ভীষ্ম পর্ব) Aheibam Dhananjay 2010 [41]

See also

Notes
  1. This Hindu Meitei King has a Persian name because he was entitled "Garib Niwaj" by the Manipuri Muslims for being "kind to the poor people".

References
  1. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 135. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  2. "Translation in Manipur". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  3. "Manipuri Literature in History 5". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  4. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 136. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  5. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  6. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  7. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  8. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  9. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  10. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  11. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature (in English and Manipuri). Sahitya Akademi. p. 137, 138. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  12. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 138. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  13. "Manipuri Literature in History 5". www.e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  14. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 138. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  15. Singh, Ch Manihar (1996). A History of Manipuri Literature. India: Sahitya Akademi. p. 139. ISBN 978-81-260-0086-9.
  16. "'Kalachand is a rare personality': 23rd jun16 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  17. Shastri, Kalachand (1956). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat Aadi Parba Ahanba Tangkhai.
  18. Shastri, Kalachand (1956). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat Aadi Parba Aroiba Tangkhai.
  19. Shastri, Kalachand (1962). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 9 Suba Khanda.
  20. Shastri, Kalachand (1963). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 11suba Khanda.
  21. Shastri, Kalachand (1963). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 12 Suba Khanda.
  22. Shastri, Kalachand (1965). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 13 Suba Khanda.
  23. Shastri, Kalachand (1967). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 14 Suba Khanda.
  24. Shastri, Kalachand (1967). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 15 Suba Khanda.
  25. Shastri, Kalachand (1968). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 16 Suba Khanda.
  26. Shastri, Kalachand (1973). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 19 Suba Khanda.
  27. Shastri, Kalachand (1975). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 20 Suba Khanda.
  28. Shastri, Kalachand (1976). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 21 Suba Khanda.
  29. Shastri, Kalachand (1977). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 22 Suba Khanda.
  30. Shastri, Kalachand (1979). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 23 Suba Khanda.
  31. Shastri, Kalachand (1982). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 25 Suba Khanda.
  32. Shastri, Kalachand (1989). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 28 Suba Khanda.
  33. Shastri, Kalachand. Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 29 Suba Khanda.
  34. Shastri, Kalachand (1999). Manipuri Mahabharat 32 Khanda.
  35. Shastri, Kalachand (1989). Ong Manipuree Mahabharat 39 Suba Khanda.
  36. Sharma, Manisana (1960). Mahabharatkee Maniratna.
  37. Singh, Ayekpam Syamsunder (1964). Shamlappa Mahabharat.
  38. Haridas Singh, Ningthoujam Ed. (1976). Manipurda Linariba Warigi Mahabharat Aadiparbagi Prirbadh.
  39. Haridas Singh, Ningthoujam Ed. (1984). Manipurda Linariba Wareegee Mahabharat Sabhapraba Tritiyardh.
  40. Haridas Singh, Ningthoujam Ed. (1989). Manipurda Linariba Wareegee Mahabharat Banpraba Amasung Biratappraba.
  41. Dhananjay Singh, Ahaibam Ed. (2010). Manipurda Leenariba Wareegee Mahabharat Bhisma Parva.
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