A history of Telugu literature; - Cristo Raul

THE PERIOD OF THE PRABANDHAS 75
wrote his kavya. It would appear that on one occasion
Krishnadevaraya had a quarrel with his wife which
threatened to develop into a serious breach. The queen
was found sleeping with her legs towards the head of his
portrait on the bed-sheet. This the king construed into a
personal insult, and hence the quarrel. The poet, who
probably came to the royal court in the retinue of the
queen, was asked to intercede. This poem was written to
show to the king that great freedom is permitted be-
tween lovers and that a wise husband should be slow in
fancying insults where none was intended. It is said that
the king caught the hint, so delicately conveyed through
the poem, and became reconciled to his wife.
The poem is a rare prabandha, full of honeyed words,
sweet sentiments and delicate and polished imagery. As a
work of art it occupies a very high place in Telugu
literature.
3. Ayyala Raju Ramabhadra Kavi (also known as
Pillala Ramabhadriah Ramabhadriah-Of-Many-Children, on
account of his large family). Unable to support his growing
family, the poet, it would seem, contemplated suicide, but
was dissuaded by his friends. At their advice he went with
his family to Vijianagaram, with the desperate resolve to earn
a livelihood or die in the attempt.
Providence helped him
at the outset, for on his entry into the capital, he met with
an adventure which brought him a friend, who introduced
him to the royal court. Caught in a thunder-storm and
drenched to the bone, the poet found in a garden a group of
students who were struggling hard at the task set by their
master i.e., to give a description of the physical effects
of virdha (love-sickness). The poet offered to help them
if they could kindle a fire for him. Under the grateful
glow of the crackling fire, he composed a stanza which the
students presented to their master as their own unaided
achievement. Tradition identifies their master with
Ramaraja Bhushana, author of Vasucharitra. The master
at once realised that he was dealing with a poet of eminence
and asked his students to take him to the stranger. Thus
was formed a friendship which secured for the poet an
entry into the coveted circle of royal poets.