Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t19.13

v2.c10.s2.t19.13

Bāṇa's personality has so many contradictions. He looked very arrogant and confident but in his heart, there was always a kind of inferiority feeling; he proclaimed himself as a person despising royalty but in the meanwhile he kept a very close relationship with the royal palace and longed for the recognition of the emperor. Harṣacarita was his greatest product of blandishment. However, although he was living in the royal palace, he still paid special attention to the life of ordinary people; although he depended on the salary provided by emperor, he was reluctant to speak for the royalty; he showed great respect to Sīladitya on the surface but in effect relentlessly criticised his reign and actions. The word that could best summarise Bāṇa's personality as "contradiction".