The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c22.30

v1.c22.30

Before discussing the conditions found in the epics it will be necessary to mention adversely two hypotheses in regard to the time in which the great epic was composed. Both are exaggerations, based partly on neglect of pertinent data, of views already considered. The first of these is the theory that the Mahābhārata is a product of our middle ages, that is, that it was a late output of the renascence. The discovery of inscriptions showing that the epic was essentially the same as it is now centuries before the middle ages of course disproves this ill-considered theory, but the great work in which it is elaborated will always remain a mine of useful information¹. On the other hand, the theory that the Mahābhārata is a work of the fifth or sixth century before Christ and the product of one author who composed it as a law-book², is a caricature of a fruitful idea of the late Professor Bühler. As it violates every known principle of historical criticism it may be passed over without discussion. The epic was composed not by one person nor even by one generation, but by several; it is primarily the story of an historic incident told by the glorifier of kings, the domestic priest and the bard, who are often one³.