A History of Sanskrit Literature: Classical Period, Vol. I c4.3

c4.3

The theory that these bards were gradually superseded by erudite poets also demands confirmation. It is also doubtful to affirm that the poets always described fights and battles from hearsay. Judging from the *Mahābhārata* and the state of events given in it in terms of *tithis* and *nakṣatras* which synchronise throughout the whole book, one should think that there were either dated notes of events or that the poets themselves according to some definite traditions synchronised the dates. Again, we know so little of the earlier poetry that we have no right to say that in earlier poetry greater stress was laid to form and erudition. The artificial poetry began at a much later date, from the 6th or the 7th century. Neither in the *Rāmāyaṇa* nor in the *Mahābhārata* do we find any influence of artificiality. Whatever may have been said in the *Tantrākhyāyikā* (I. 321), the *Mahābhārata* is regarded as an *itihāsa*, and seldom regarded as a *kāvya* which place is assigned to the *Rāmāyaṇa*. It is also doubtful (at least there is hardly any evidence) that the panegyrics were the first thing of *kāvya*. It is also wrong to hold that the *Kāvya* style means an ornate style.