- Source: Balarama Dasa
Balarama Dasa (alternatively spelled Balaram Das; Odia: [bɔl̪ɔraːmɔ d̪aːsɔ] ; c. 1474-1522) was an Odia poet and litterateur. He was one of the 5 great poets in Odia literature, the Panchasakha named Sri Ananta Dasa, Sri Jagannatha Dasa, Sri Jasobanta Dasa and Sri Achyutananda Dasa during the Bhakti age of literature. He was the eldest of the Pancha sakha. He wrote the Jagamohana Ramayana also known as Dandi Ramayana.
Personal life
Not much is known about his early life. From his own writings it is known that he was the son of Somanatha Mahapatra and Jamuna Debi who belonged to Karana community. Balarama Dasa hailed from an aristocratic noble family of a minister named Somanatha who belonged to Karana community, his father Somanatha was a devout follower of Lord Jagannath and raised Balarama in a religious environment, Somanatha was known by the name "Mahamantri Somanatha Mohapatra" in Gajapati Empire. Balarama Dasa also served as a minister in Prataparudra Deva's court and originally belonged to the village of Erabanga in Puri district. He was educated and was well versed in Sanskrit. Balarama naturally grew to be proficient in both Odia and Sanskrit. He became a devotee of Jagannatha. In his Middle Ages he came in contact with Chaitanya. Balarama Dasa had left his position of ministership in Prataparudra Deva's court in pursuit of spiritual ideals after being influenced by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is speculated that he died while on a pilgrimage to Puri in Begunia village near Konark. There is a memorial for him near this village.
Literary works
Dasa translated the Ramayana to Odia. It is also known as Jagamohana Ramayana or Dandi Ramayana. More than a translation, the work is a transcreation, as it deviates in many ways from the original. In some parts he goes against the original text and in some parts follows the original text closely and yet in some other parts he creates entirely new narratives.
He also broke new grounds by translating the Bhagabat Gita into Odia. Before this the philosophical and theological texts were not translated into Odia. Even in Odia Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa, the portion containing Bhagabata Gita was omitted by the author. Balarama Dasa was subsequently persecuted by the priestly class for his translation of Bhagabata Gita.
His other works are as below.