Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c22.11

c22.11

The *Mahābhārata* is believed to have assumed its present form between the fourth century B.C. and the fourth century A.D.,⁴ while the *Rāmāyaṇa* is supposed to have had its present extent and contents as early as the second century A.D.⁵ The *Tīrtha-yātrā* section of the *Vana-parvan* of the *Mahābhārata* contains two subsections on Gayā,¹ which point to the place as a great *tīrtha*. But what is more important is that both these subsections have one stanza in common, which is introduced in one case by the passage *kīrtayanti purātanaḥ*² showing that it was an old *gāthā* handed down by tradition. The stanza runs as follows :