Page:Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1.djvu/39

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KALHAYAS LITERARY TRAINING. Another and earlier work which Kalhana appears to have closely studied, is Bana’s Harsacarita, the well-known historical romance describing the exploits of King Horsovardhana of Kanavj and Thanesar. The number of rare words and phrases which this text and the Rajatarahgini have in common, and which other- wise cannot be traced, makes the above conclusion practically certain.’ In style and composition the difference between Biina’s work, with its highly poetical but equally forid prose, and the Chronicle of Kalhana is so great that no slavish imitu- tion could be imputed to the latter. On the other hand, we can easily understand why the Kasmirian author should have devoted close attention to the novel of Har- savardhane’s court poet. Tt was one of the few older Sanskrit compositions dealing with historical events which are lilrely to have enjoyed popularity in his own time.

7. Leaving the field of Kavya literature wo mst ascribe to Kalhane a ve intimate knowledge of the Mahabharie Thouever he desires to illustrate his narretive by a reference to similar & x to emphasize a point of moral judgment, he turns to this vast store-house of iraditionzl lore? His allusions are often made to little-known episodes and obscure incidents. Tho trouble which their identification has frequently cost, enables us to judge of the labours Kalhana must have devoted to the thorough mastery of the gigantic Epic. He seems to have been equally well acquainted with the Ramayana though his quotations from it are Jess numerous?

‘We can easily trace the connection between this close study of Sanskrit epic literature and Kalhana’s work as a Chronicler. To Kalhana as to the Pandit of the present day, the legends clustering round the war of the Kurus and Pandavas and the life of Rama, with the mythology attaching to them, all appeared in the light of real history. What distinguishes these epic stories to the Indian mind from events of historical tines, is only their superior interest due to the glamour of a heroic age, and their record by sacred authority. We may safely surmise he the study of the sacred epics had directly influenced Kalhana in the choice of

is task.

We have probably indications of Kalbana’s literary training also in the frequent incidental references which he makes to partienar poets and scholars in the reigns of various kings,® These notices are of considerable interest for the history of Sanskrit literature, It is not easy to say which of these literary data were derived from Kalhana’s own reading, and wii simply reproduced from the earlier sources to bo noticed thereafter. Some, like the mention of the poets who flourished at Yasovarmen’s court,!° are more likely to have been supplied by current literary tradition than by older Kasmirian Chronicles, To the jes we may attribute also Kalhane’s acquaintance with several poetical dicts, chiefly

satirical, which he quotes on occasion." In addition it may be noted that he hed.

5 Compare for detailed evidence, Note i, 2818, 2911 5q., 2948, 2977, 3449. Several of

means rare in Kasmir, and a passage from it we suoted in Che old Keaémirian handbook of rhetoric, Gvyaprakésa,
 * Old MSS. of the Harsacarita are by no

‘ For Heise earences tothe Mahébha- rata, comy i. |; ii. 94 8qq.; iii. 278; iv. 46, 108, 621, 600, 636, 641; 10, 605) ‘S04, 1168, 1365, 1476, 1718; viii. $35, 460, 870, $92, 1098, 1199, 1289, 1855, 2025, 2122, 2170, 2256, 2280, 2305 0q., 2336, 7769, 2811)

these contain allusions to more than one story of the Mahabharata.

i See tl oS eh a vi. 228; vii. 1202; Vili, 835, 1856, 1591, j 2382, 297 8159, 8119. a BS a

§ See i. 178; ii 16; iv, 144, 483 0g. 495 8qq., 705 ; v. 26, 82 aqq., 204,

2» iv. 144 (Bhavabhoti, Vékpatirsja),

© ii, 18), 252; iv. 635-637; vii. 1123 3qq.

Study of Harsacarita.

Kalhana’s know- ledge of the Epics.

Knowledge of literary history.