Question

Who was the author of Vikramanka Charita?
A. Bilhana
B. Rana
C. Bharavi
D. Vijnaneswra

Answer 1

Hint: The Love poem caurapancasika was first translated into French in 1848. After that, it was translated into several languages and several times.

Complete answer:
Bilhana was an 11th-century poet. Bilhana avoided his home and homeland in the search of fame and fortune. According to some legend, the Brahman Bilhana fell in love with the daughter of king Modanabhirama, princess Yaminipurnatilaka, and had a secret love relationship with her. very soon the king came to know about this secret love affair and sent Bilhana into strict prison. Bilhana was a Kashmiri poet. As Bilhana was alone there he wrote the Caurapancasika a fifty stanza Love poem in the wait of Judgement as it was unknown whether he would live alive or die in the prison only. It is still unknown what was the fate of Bilhana whether he was sent into exile or died on the gallows.
But Bilhana's poem was transmitted orally all around India. Later on, many versions of his Love poem were released. One version of south India explains that Bilhana had a happy ending whether there is also a version of Kashmiri language that does not specify what ending Bilhana faced. T Sir Edwin Arnold (1896) and Sir Edward Powys Mathers (1919) translations are among some famous translations. They named their translation "Black marigolds''. The later versions were quoted extensively by John Steinbeck in the cannery row. Bilhana is also famous for his writing of the eulogy of the Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI titled Vikramankadevacharitra.

Thus, option (A) is correct.

Note: Western Chalukya empire king Vikramaditya VI appointed Bilhana as Vidyapati. Bilhana was a poet of Sanskrit Language.