A History of Indian Literature v3.c35.s6.60

v3.c35.s6.60

With this the canto XIX comes to an end; but it is impro-bable that the poem too ended with it. In case the birth of the prince had been described², it could be said to have ended happily. With the text, that is available, not only does the poet leave us in uncertainty with regard to the fate of the successors of Agnivarṇa, but the epic ends really tragically, a thing which is against the practice of the Indian poets. Likewise the benedic-tory stanza, in which Indian poetry usually ends, is wanting.