శ్రీ రామాయణము - నాలుగవసంపుటము

by కట్టా వరదరాజు

TANJORE SARASWATI MAHAL SERIES NO. 64.

SRI RAMAYANAMU

BY

KATTA VARADARAJU.

(YUDDHA KANDA)

CRITICALLY EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION

BY

Sri N. Venkata Rao, M. A.,

Senior Lecturer and Head of the Telugu Department

Madras University, Madras.

___________

Published by

Sri S. Gopalan, B.A., B.L.,

Hony. Secretary for the Administrative Committee

T. M. S. S. MAHAL LIBRARY, TANJORE.

1953

Price Rs. 7/8

PREFACE

     This publication contains the " YUDHAKANDA" of KATTA VJRATRAJU'S DVIPADA RAMAYANAMU. This is issued in continuation of our prior publications of " BALA, " "AYODHYA,” "ARANYA," "KISHKINDHA” and “SUNDARA” Kandas. We hope this publication will receive the same appreciation from the public and the press as the prior ones did.
     Our thanks are due to the Editor Sri N. Venkata Rao, Ilead of the Department of Telugu, University of Madras for his valuable
services in editing the work and to Sri A. Mahadeva Sastri and Sri V. Sundara Sarma, Telugu Pandits of our Library, for carefully going through the original and preparing a correct copy for the editor.

     We are grateful to the Government of Madras for their timely grants that have enabled us to publish this and other valuable manuscripts of this Library. We must thank also the Rathnam Press, Madras for the neatness and despatch with which they have executed the printing of this publication.

Saraswati Mahal, Library,

S. GOPALAN,

Honorary Secretary,

T. M. S. S. M. Library Committee

           TANJORE
           11.6-1953.

EDITORIAL NOTE

       The present work Yuddhakanda, which forms the fourth volume completes the publication of Ramayanam by Katta Varadaraju of the post-Krishnaraya period in Telugu. This publication is a land mark in the history of Dwipada Kavya Literature in general and Ramayana Literature in particular, and is unique in many respects. This work settles not only the disputed text of Ranganatharamayana published by the Andhra University, but also helps to restore some portions of the text of Tallapaka Annamacharya's Dwipada Ramayana, which is now considered to be lost. It further gives a fresh impetus for the study of the influence of Vaishnavism, in Telugu and eventually the evolution of Ramayana Literature in Telugu.

      My thanks are due to the Government of Madras, and the Telugu Expert Committee for having entrusted to me the heavy responsibility of editing this voluminous work; to the Syndicate of the Madras University for having kindly permitted me to undertake its editorship. I have to specially thank Sri S. Gopalan, Honorary Secretary, T. M. S. S. M, Library for the very many facilities given to me, and for the assistance rendered by the Library Staff especially the Telugu Pandits in preparing the Press Copy. I must also thank the Rathnam Press, Madras in this connection, for the excellent manner in which the publication is brought out.

      Lastly, the Telugu Literary World is ever indebted to Sri B. Gopala Redddi Garu, the former Finance Minister of the Madras State and the present Pro-Chancellor of the Andhra University, for placing the necessary funds at the disposal of the Tanjore Library, and enabling them to complete the work, as otherwise it would have never seen the light of day in its present form. He evinced a keen interest in the work from the beginning to the end, and watched its progress throughout. I am always, and will ever be grateful to him for having inspired and encouraged me in editing and in bringing to light, this most outstanding work of Ramayana Literature in Telugu.

N. VENKATA RAO

Head of the department of Telugu,
              University of Madras,