The History of Indian Literature c9.46.1

c9.46.1

As the second group of Epic Poetry we designated the *Kávyas*, which are ascribed to certain definite poets (*kavis*); whereas the Itihásas and Puráṇas are attributed to a mythical personage, Vyása, who is simply Διασκευή (Redaction) personified.∗ At the head of these poems stands the *Rámáyaṇa* of Válmíki, whose name we found cited among the teachers of the Taittiríya-Prátiśákhya.† In respect of language, this work is closely related to the war-portion of the Mahá-Bhárata, although in individual cases, where the poet displays his full elegance, it bears plainly enough on its surface, in rhyme and metre, the traces of a later date. In regard to contents, on the contrary, the difference between it and this portion of the Mahá-Bhárata is an important one. In the latter human interest everywhere preponderates, and a number of well-defined personages are introduced, to whom the possibility of historical existence cannot be denied, and who were only at a later stage associated with the myths about the gods. But in the Rámáyaṇa we find ourselves from the very outset in the region of allegory; and we only move upon historical ground in so far as the allegory is applied to an historical fact, namely, to the spread of Aryan civilisation towards the south, more especially to Ceylon. The characters are not real historic figures, but merely personifications of certain occurrences and situations.