The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s7.88

v1.c7.s7.88

Hāla himself is credited with the compilation of the *Gāthā Sattasai*. This is an anthology of seven hundred verses in the Mahārāṣṭrī prākrit abounding in love sentiments and ironical expressions. This work was evidently in the mind of Bāṇa when he referred to it as an immortal and refined repository of good sayings composed by Sātavāhana.¹ It is an important work not only on its own account but also as showing the existence of a large mass of Prākrit literature at the time when it was compiled. Most of that literature is now lost. From the commentators' notes it appears that the compositions of poets like Bodissa, Chulluha, Amararāj, Kumarela, Makarandasena, and Śrīrāja were freely drawn upon by Hāla in making this literary collection.²