A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s6.103

v3.c35.s6.103

In case it was Bhāravi's endeavour to eulogise Śiva, Māgha pursues the religious objective of extolling Viṣṇu. He too has drawn his material from the Mahābhārata, and that from the section on the slay of Śiśupāla by Kṛṣṇa³. The poet, however, is not entirely dependant upon the legend as he finds it in the Mahābhārata. His main interest lies in descriptions and sketches, that get into motion with predilection towards the erotic domain; nevertheless the subject-matter itself has in the least to do with erotics. Almost half of the twenty cantos of the extant epic has nothing to do with the proper story.