Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c13.70

c13.70

The work of the seventh century in the domain of Sanskrit literature continued at least in the first half of the eighth century. About 700 A.D. comes Bhavabhūti, author of three plays, the Mālatī Mādhava, the Mahāviracharita, and above all, the Uttara Rāma Charita. The last two considerably modify the Rāmāyaṇa story in their plots. The Uttaracharita dares to criticise Rāma's action in exiling Sītā to calm irrational rumours, but it admits the high regard which a king must pay to popular sentiment. For the rest Bhavabhūti, a Brāhmaṇa of the Taittiriya school of the Yajurveda, is a believer in orthodox Brahmanism. In one of his scenes King Rāma is thrown into consternation when he is informed that a Śūdra was, contrary to Śāstric injunctions, practising penances and that this violation of Dharma was bringing ruin on some righteous folk. Rāma hurries to slay the Śūdra and thus maintain Dharma inviolate.²