Studies in the History of Sanskrit Poetics v1.c6.26

v1.c6.26

iii 125-252), we get in him a very early commentator on Bharata. But this evidence does not appear to be conclusive; for our Mātrgupta, as Rāghavabhatta’s profuse quotations shew, probably wrote an independent metrical work on dramaturgy, in which he might have in the usual course commented on Bharata’s precepts; and the word *vyākhyāna* need not be construed to mean a commentary. This author, cited only by late commentators, is therefore to be distinguished from the poet of that name; and probably he belongs to comparatively recent times, being certainly unknown to Abhinavagupta, Dhanika and other older writers. But he must be earlier than Śārngadeva (beginning of the 13th century) who mentions him in his work as an authority on music.