Bhojaprabandha (narrative of Bhoja), written by Ballala Deva, is the story of Bhoja, King of Malwa during the 11th Century A.D. This book contains many interesting legends about great poets like Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti and Bana.
King Bhoja was so deeply dedicated to the cause of literature that writing of poetry had become a mass movement during his tenure as a king. Only those who had poetic skills were permitted to reside inthe city “Dhara” during Bhoja’s tenure as the king. This was his order, “विप्रोऽपि यो भवेन्मूर्खः स पुराद्बहिरस्तु मे। कुम्भकारोऽपि यो विद्वान् स तिष्ठतु पुरे मम॥” “Let not a stupid person stay in my city even if he is brahmin; Let a learned person stay in my city, even if one is a potter.”
Ballala Deva, it seems, was interested not so much in history as in heroics. In his attempt to magnify Bhoja as a patron of art and letters, Ballala has ignored historical facts. The poets, Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti and Bana, who, he said adorned Bhoja-s court, belonged to centuries much before Bhoja.
Bala-Bhojaprabandha in Hindi by Pt Sunderlal Sharma Dvivedi
This is an adapted version of Ballaladeva’s Bhoja Prabandha in Hindi. The author has retained all the interesting anecdots from the original Bhojaprabandha.
DOWNLOAD LINKS
Bhoja Prabandha of Ballala Deva – Sanskrit Hindi- Jagadishlal Shastri
Bhojaprabandha – Sanskrit text with Hindi translation by SS Tripathi
May I get a copy of this book? If so, pl give me the address. pl also inform whether sanskrit-Marathi version is available?
Deshpandeji,
I could not locate a Marathi version of this book anywhere on the net. Please see the download links given at the bottom of the post, from where you could download all the 3 versions of Bhojaprabandha. You may be able to purchase a hard copy of this book from Moti Lal Benarsi Dass.
i want english or tamil translation for this bhoja prabandha
There are 4 books on the life of Bhoja in Tamil at DLI (Digital Library of India)
BHOJARAJA SARITHIRAM., 1990050051278. PUNNAI MADABOOSI-SRINIVASASI. 1902. tamil. BHOJARAJA SARITHIRAM. 86 pgs.
booja charitthiram., 2990100189178. t’i.es. n-aaraayand-achaasthiriyaar. 1907. tamil. Drama. 512 pgs.
boojacharittiram., 2990100189179. t’i.es.n-aaraayand-achaastiriyaar. 1900. tamil. Drama. 402 pgs.
boojacharittiram muunr’aam patippu., 2990100189180. t’i.es.n-aaraayand-achaastiriyaar. 1916. tamil. Drama. 584 pgs.
Please note how the titles are spelled in DLI entries. To download books from DLI, you may make use of a free software called DLI Downloader which can be found through Google search.
I could find only one English translation of Bhojaprabandha – http://www.worldcat.org/title/narrative-of-bhoja-bhojaprabandlha/oclc/003468579
I am not sure if its reprints are available now. I have not seen this book. Nor is it available as ebook.