Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t19.11

v2.c10.s2.t19.11

The Sarasvatī legend has no historical value. Bāṇa’s superficial self-confidence and arrogance probably originated from his self-abasement-so he needed Sarasvatī to prove his talent and authority in literature and art in order to gain widespread recognition and acceptance of the royal family. On one hand, Bāṇa maintained an arrogant and virtuous attitude to show his indifference to royalty while on the other hand he was very proud and pleased that he won over the trust and wealth of Siladitya. The relationship between Bāṇa and royalty was just like Siladitya’s attitude to royalty-ashamed to admit but hankered after it incessantly. In the beginning of the Chapter two, Bāṇa described himself as a person who wanted to get water (longing for visiting Sīladitya), described Sīladitya as a deep well that you could not see its bottom, and likened the referee (Kṛṣṇa, Sīladitya's half-brother) as a water pot with a rope tied on it. This can be viewed as a humble metaphor which is mixed with author's arrogance.