How did the poet daNDi get his name?

© DKM Kartha

It is believed that the poetical use of the word daNdam several times in the following SlOkam by the author of KAvyAdaRSa and daSakumAra charitam led to his getting the name daNDi:

ब्रह्माण्डच्छत्र-दण्डः शतधृति-भवनाम्भोरुहो नाळ-दण्डः
क्षोणीनौकूपदण्डः क्षरदमरसरित्पट्टिका-केतुदण्डः ।
ज्योतिश्चक्राक्षदण्डस्त्रिभुवन-विजयस्तम्भ-दण्डोऽङ्घ्रि-दण्डः
श्रेयस्त्रैविक्रमस्ते वितरतु विबुधद्वेषिणां कालदण्डः ।।

brahmāṇḍa-cchatradaṇḍaḥ
śata-dhṛti-bhavan’-âmbhoruho nāla-daṇḍaḥ kṣoṇī-nau-kūpa-daṇḍaḥ kṣarad-amara-
sarit-paṭṭikā-ketu-daṇḍaḥ |
jyotiścakr’-âkṣa-daṇḍas tribhuvana-
vijaya-stambha-daṇḍo ‘ṅghri-daṇḍaḥ
śreyas traivikramas te vitaratu vibudha-dveṣiṇāṃ kāla-daṇḍaḥ ||
- - from daSakumAra charitam

May the leg of Vishnu's VAmanAvaram, Trivikrama,
   which is the pole supporting the parasol of the Cosmos;
   which is the stem of the lotus on which Brahma is seated;
   which is the mast of the ship that is the earth;
   which is rod of the streaming banner of the river of the Gods;
   which is the axle around which the zodiac turns;
   which is the pillar of victory of VAmana over the three worlds,
   which is the rod of death for the enemies of the Gods,
reward you all with all the blessings.

Reference:

• This Shlokam can be found as part of the vAmanastutiH
• English translation.
• Sanskrit translation of the verse.
• Someone must have added it in the Vamanastutih.
  
• There is some history behind Dandin discussed in scholarly manner.
• The kAvyAdarsha and dashakumAracharitam are thought of written by different daNDins.
• The story of dashakumAracharitam may be interesting for active :-) readers.
• More elaborate version of the story of dashakumAracharitam.

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© DKM Kartha

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