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The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c12.s5: The Joy of Life in Literature

The Positive Background of Hindu Sociology c12.s5

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English

The Joy of Life in Literature

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Secularism, *le joie de vivre*, has been the one grand theme of Hindu *belles lettres*. Political incidents and movements were worked upon by all the leading poets and dramatists. Those who study Hindu poetry, drama, fables and stories do not require to read the *Dharma*, *Artha* or *Nitiśāstras* separately. The social philosophy of Kauṭalya and Manu is to be found in this creative literature in an artistic form.

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Among the poets and dramatists who dealt with *Nīti* topics are to be enumerated in a somewhat chronological order the following for the period in question:¹²
1. Bhāsa (c. 350 A.C.): *Avimāraka*.
2. Śūdraka (c. 400 A.C.) *Mrichchhakaṭika*.
3. Kālidāsa (390-460) *Raghuvamśa*.
4. Bhāravi (c. 550 A.C.): *Kirātārjunīyam*.
5. Daṇḍin (c. 550 A.C.): *Daśakumāracharita*.
6. Viśākhadatta (c. 550 A.C. ?): *Mudrārākṣasa*.

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¹² Winternitz: *Geschichte* (1921) Vol. III., pp. 37, 45, 47. Keith: *History of Sanskrit Literature* (1928) pp. 82, 297; Hillebrandt: "Nīti und Mudrārākṣasa" and "Viśākhadatta" in *Jahresbericht der Sächsischen Gesellschaft für Vaterländische Culture* (Breslau, July 1908).

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To the same category as the Sanskrit Buddhist legends but more oriented to *Nīti* or political and social thought are the story-books of "Hindu India." Some of them are being named below:¹³
1. The *Tantrākhyāyika* (c. 350 A.C.)
2. The *Panchatantra* (c. 400 A.C.)
3. The *Brihatkathā* (c. 450 A.C.)
4. The *Hitopadeśa* (c. 500 A.C.)

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¹³ Winternitz: *Geschichte*, Vol. III. p. 37.

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