तन्त्रसार (महामाहेश्वर अभिनवगुप्त - तन्त्रालोक का प्रामाणिक सार-संग्रह सटीक)

iv
intellect and pure wisdom ( Candrāvadatadhīṣaṇa ) after
delving deep into the delicious flavour of all literatures.
( Sarvaśāstra rasamajjana śubhracitta ).
Abhinavagupta was born of Cukhulaka. He mentions the
name of his father as Cukhalaka thus; Kāsmīrakāccukha-
lakādadhigamya janma, but at the same time he mentions
him as Narasimhagupta from whom he received lessons in
grammar and earned competency in entering the intricacy
of words. He speaks of his father how in his youth leaving
behind all the allurements of domestic life he had accepted
the path of renunciation with a firm resolve and was able to
obtain pure devotion to Lord Siva. His Mother was Vimalakalā
who left Abhinavagupta bereaved while he was a mere boy
( bālya eva ), but he says frankly that though the hands
of God ( daiva ) have made a sharp blow, yet this unknown
factor shaped his nature in such a way that it failed to cause
any impediment in his advancement along the path as ordained
by Lord. This early separation of his mother helped him a
great deal in choosing his future course of life.
He says that it is a common saying of people that mother
is the great friend of man. But, on the contrary, he says that
her affection to her son makes the bonds of life tighter.
Hence, she is considered to be the basic bond ( mūlabandha )
of human beings. When it falls off, it seemed to him that
he had attained liberation while living. Therefore, he applied
himself devotedly to learn the subtleties of dialectics. Then
in order to enjoy the flavour of Sāhitya to its full, he being
urged by his devotion to Lord and goaded by his own earnest-
ness and love for literature, went to eminent scholars with
the purpose of augmenting the delight he received from his
close association with them. It is stated that he received