A history of Telugu literature; - Cristo Raul

66 A HISTORY OF TELUGU LITERATURE
6. Vinukonda Vallabha (A.D. 1420- ). Vinukonda Vallabha was
the son of Ravipati Tippanna. This Tippanna was the ruler of a few
villages in Muliki Nadu", besides being the keeper of the crown jewels of
Hari Hara Raja. The poet's Krldabhiramamti, though it purports to
be a translation of a drama in Sanskrit by name Premddhiramamu, is
really an original composition. The author is the first Telugu poet to
translate a drama as a drama, whereas till then Sanskrit dramas were
translated as mere kavyas. Krldabhiramamu, like ^rinatha's
Vldhinataka, is a unique piece of literature in Telugu, an original
literary mode exceedingly rare. The scene is laid at Warangal. It
is the story of the travels narrated by Govinda Machanna to his friend
Komati Vitagramani, informing him of the scenes he had witnessed
and the adventures he had met while in Warangal. He gives a
delightful description of a cock-fight in the streets of Warangal.
Pillalamarri Pinavirabhadriah (A.D. 1450-80). The
second half of the fifteenth century produced one poet of
outstanding merit, who stands at the close of the era of
translations, summing up in himself extraordinary learning
in Sanskrit, encyclopaedic knowledge of the Vedas and Ved-
angas, and a widespread reputation for sanctity. Pillalamarri
Pinavirabhadriah takes his place in the rank of inspired
poets who owe their achievements not to laborious training,
but to native talents, imparted by the favourite deity.
Pinavira's family tree is adorned with many poets ;
and if
tradition can be trusted, the boy-prodigy had in his tenth
year all the massive learning of a pandit of forty. We are
told that Srinatha, who wanted to have the poet's
criticism of his Naishada, had to seek him among boys playing
in the street, and could hardly bring himself to believe that
the poet whom reputation had made so formidable was a
young lad in his teens. Yet, with one shrewd question and
a sharp comment, the boy-poet sent Srinatha about his
business a sadder and wiser man and rejoined his playmates,
all unconscious that he had sat in judgment and condemned
the greatest poet of the age. 1
Pillalamarri Pinavirabhadriah was the court poet of Saluva
Narasimha Razu, who was for some time the commander of
Virupaksha Raya, whom he supplanted, and became an
independent ruler of Ana-Gonda in Bellary District. The
poet was the disciple of Bharatitirta Svami, through
1
Seep.
61 f.