A History of Indian Literature v1.c9.s2.28

v1.c9.s2.28

The fact that the Mahābhārata consists almost entirely of *speeches* is certainly a trait of antiquity.¹ Ugraśravas is the reciter of the outline story, and in the poem itself Vaiśampāyana is the speaker. Within the narrative of Vaiśampāyana innumerable inserted tales are put in the mouth of various persons, this insertion of stories within stories being a very popular device in Indian literature. In most cases the narratives, as well as the speeches of the persons appearing, have no introduction but the prose formulae: "Vaiśampāyana spake," "Yudhiṣṭhira spaken, "Draupadī spake," and so on.