The History of Indian Literature c9.94

c9.94

Of the Ethico-Didactic Poetry—the so-called *Níti-Śástras*—but little has survived in a complete form (some pieces also in the Tibetan Tandjur), no doubt because the great epic, the Mahá-Bhárata, in consequence of the character of universality which was gradually stamped upon it, is itself to be regarded as such a Níti-Śástra. Still, relics enough of the aphoristic ethical poetry have been preserved to enable us to judge that it was a very favourite form, and achieved very excellent results.²²⁰ Closely allied to it is the literature of the ‘Beast-Fable,’ which has a very special interest for us, as it forms a substantial link of connection with the West. We have already pointed out that the oldest animal-fables known to us at present occur in the Chhándogyopanishad. Nor are these at all limited there to the representation of the gods as assuming the forms of animals, and in this shape associating with men, of which we have even earlier illustrations,∗ but animals are themselves introduced as the speakers and actors. In Páṇini’s time, complete cycles of fables may possibly have already existed, but this is by no means certain as yet.† The oldest fables, out of India, are those of Babrius, for some of which at least the Indian original may be pointed out.²²¹ But the most ancient book of fables extant is the *Pañcha-tantra*. The original text of this work has, it is true, undergone great alteration and expansion, and cannot now be restored with certainty; but its existence in the sixth century a.d. is an ascertained fact, as it was then, by command of the celebrated Sassanian king Núshírván (reg. 531–579), translated into Pahlaví. From this translation, as is well known, subsequent versions into almost all the languages of Asia Minor and Europe have been derived.²²² The recension of the extant text seems to have taken place in the Dekhan;²²³ while the epitome of it known as the *Hitopadeśa* was probably drawn up at Palibothra, on the Ganges. The form of the Hindú collections of fables is a peculiar one, and is therefore everywhere easily recognisable, the leading incident which is narrated invariably forming a framework within which stories of the most diverse description are set.∗—Allied to the fables are the Fairy Tales and Romances,²²⁴ in which the luxuriant fancy of the Hindús has in the most wonderful degree put forth all its peculiar grace and charm. These too share with the fables the characteristic form of setting just referred to, and thereby, as well as by numerous points of detail, they are sufficiently marked out as the original source of most of the Arabian, Persian, and Western fairy tales and stories; although, in the meantime, very few of the corresponding Indian texts themselves can be pointed out.