Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c13.14

c13.14

No. XVII, Pañcharâtram; No. XX, Avimâraka; No. XXI, Bâla-charita; No. XXII (which comprises five small plays); No. XXVI, Abhişekanâtaka; No. XXXIX, Chârudatta; No. XLII, Pratimânâtaka, between the years 1912 and 1915. For the date and authorship, T. Ganapati Sâstri, Bhâsa's Dramas, a criticism; also introduction to Svapnavâsavadatta and Pratimânâtaka. It is on linguistic grounds that Ganapati Sâstri places Bhâsa before Pâtañjali, Kâtyâyana and Pânini; L. D. Barnett in Bulletins of the London School of Oriental Studies, Sukthankar, Studies in Bhâsa, in J. A. O. S., 42; Keith, Sanskrit Drama, 91—126. The Pisharodis and C. Kunhana Râja also contest Ganapati Sâstri's theory. Also C. R. Devadhar, "The Plays ascribed to Bhâsa, their Authenticity and Merits." Annals of the Bhandarkar Institute, 1925-26 (Vol. VII, Parts I and II), pp. 29—64. Bhâsa is inferior to Kâlidâsa in genius but he is much better adapted for the stage. It has been suggested that he represents a reaction against the ornate drama but it is equally plausible that his style was overlaid with ornament by his successors. Numerous comparisons have been drawn between Bhâsa and Kâlidâsa. For instance, Ganapati Sâstri's Introduction to Pratimânâtaka, Keith, Sanskrit Drama, 124—126.