A History of Sanskrit Literature c20.s2: History

c20.s2.1

No work of a directly historical character is met with in Sanskrit literature till after the Muhammadan conquest. This is the *Rājataraṅgiṇī*, or "River of Kings," a chronicle of the kings of Kashmir, begun by its author, Kalhaṇa, in 1148 A.D. It contains nearly 8000 *çlokas*. The early part of the work is legendary in character. The poet does not become historical till he approaches his own times. This work (ed. M. A. Stein, Bombay, 1892; trans. by Y. C. Datta, Calc., 1898) is of considerable value for the archæology and chronology of Kashmir.