Biography of Kashiram Das | Life story of Kashiram Das

A Short Biography of Kashiram Das, the best translator of Mahabharata into Bengali. The biography of Kashiram Das is discussed below.

Who was Kashiram das?

Kashiram Das was well versed in Sanskrit. He used to teach from the shelter of the zamindar’s house in Abasgarh, present-day Paschim Midnipur district. It is said that he was inspired to translate the Mahabharata in Bengali language after hearing the stories of the Mahabharata from the narrators and Sanskrit scholars in the landlord’s house.

“Mahabharatera katha amrita saman ।
Kashiram das kahe sune punyaban ।।”

Mahabharata is the greatest epic of India. This is not just a fairy tale. Knowledge is the form of science. India is the foundation of universal principles of mankind. The Mahabharata is the main source of all Puranas, including the Veda Upanishads of ancient India. Hence it is called the fifth Veda.

Short Biography of Kashiram Das

Kashiram Das’s Birthday

Kabir Vastuvita was donated by his son to their patriarch in 1085 AD. From this grant it is estimated that Kashiram was born sometime after 1000 AD.

Kashiram Das’s paternal identity

Kashiram’s great grandfather’s name was Priyankar. Grandfather’s name is Sudhakar and father’s name is Kamalakant. Kashiram was the middle son of his father. His elder’s name is Krishnadas and younger’s name is Gadadhar. Jyeshtha Krishnadas translated the Bhagavata into Bengali and composed the poem Sri Krishna Vilas. Gadadhar Jagannath, the youngest son, is the author of Mangal Kavya.

Residence of Kashiram Das:

Kashiram’s residence Siddhigram is now known as Singigram. It is assumed that the zamindar of the neighboring village of Siddhi village added this village to his own village and got the name Siddhigram. According to many, the poet’s ancestral home was present in Siddhigram region near Daihat. Poet Kashiramdas used to teach by setting up a Pathshala under the shelter of the Raja of Abasgarh in Medinipur district.

Kathaka-singers would often come to the royal palace at that time and they would recite the Mahabharata Puranas. The poet’s mind is in Bengali language after listening to the speech of the narrators. Interest in writing Mahabharata was born. Later, Mahabharata, written by him, passed into obscurity and became a household name among Bengalis.

Life story of Kashiram Das

The life story of Punyashlok Kashiram Das is still in the dark circles of the past. The poet himself has recorded his identity in the epic Mahabharata:

Indrani’s name is the status of the country’s ancestors.
On the twelfth tirtha, Vaise Bhagirathi.
Kayastha – Born in Kule and lived in Siddhigram.
Name Priyankar Dassut Sudhakar.
Father Kamalakanta Krishnadas.
Krishnadasanuj Gadadhar elder brother.
Panchali Prakashi Kahe Kashiram Das.
Oli will be Krishnapade in the heart of desire.

From this it is known that he was born in a village called Siddhi under Indrani Pargana and had his residence on the banks of Bhagirathi. There were also twelve shrines. There is a poem about this information.

Bar Ghat, Thirteen Ghat, Three Chandis, Three Gods.
This is the home of the one who can speak.

Even today, ruins of twelve tirthas or ghats can be seen on the banks of the Ganges near Siddhigram. Traces of a Shiva temple named Indreshwar still exist today. Therefore, there is no doubt that Siddhigram in Indrani Pargana under Katwa sub-division of Bardwan district is the birth place of poet Kashiram Das. Here he dug a pond, which is still known as ‘Keshepukur’. Siddhi village is now known as Singigram.

Verse number of Mahabharata:

Mahamuni Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyas first composed Mahabharata in sixty lakh verses. Out of these six lakh shlokas, three hundred lakhs were preached in Devalaka, fifteen lakhs in Pitralaka, fourteen lakhs in Gandharbalaka and the remaining lakhs in Martlaka. These lakhs of verses were later translated into different languages ​​from the original Sanskrit by the learned scholars of India. The Bengali translation which is popular and widely used by all was written by Kashiram Das.

Kashidasi Mahabharata:

The translation by Kashiram Das is popularly known as Kashidasi Mahabharata. Although the poet named it Bharata-Panchali.

At the end of the Virat Parva in the Kashidasi Mahabharata, the poet has indicated the end of the translation of the Virat Parva in a Bhanita.

Kashiram Das’s Mahabharata is popularly recognized:

Many poets have translated the Mahabharata into Bengali, but Kashiram Das’s Mahabharata is undoubtedly the classic.

The earlier translators of Kashiram were literal translations of the original text in scholarly language. Bhakti and ideology did not enliven their thinking.

The Mahabharata of Kashiram Das, composed in simple, plain yet beautifully juicy language, has been resounding with the voices of devotees and humorous Narnari in villages, towns, cities and ports of Bengal.

Books written by Kashiram Das:

Kashiram Das translated Mahabharata into Bengali and wrote Bharat Panchali Kavya. Also, other books written by him are Satyanarayan’s Poonthi, Swapnaparva, Jalparva and Nalopakhyana.

Untimely Death of Kashiram Das:

Kashiram is said to have composed Adi, Sabha, Vana and Virata Parva of Mahabharata. After his untimely death, he could not translate the remaining episodes of the Mahabharata. Gadadhara’s son Nandaram was finally ordered by him to complete his work. Nandaram completed the translation of the Mahabharata on the orders of his seniority.

The first four parts of Kashiram’s Mahabharata were first printed in 1801-03 AD from the Srirampur Mission Press. 1836 A.D. From this press, the complete edition of Mahabharata was published under the editorship of Jayagaepala Tarkalankara.

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