Essay name: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
Author: A. D. Pusalker
This book studies Bhasa, the author of thirteen plays ascribed found in the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series. These works largely adhere to the rules of traditional Indian theatrics known as Natya-Shastra.
Page 82 of: Bhasa (critical and historical study)
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62
century A. D.). Therefore all dates later than the 7th
century assigned to Bh膩sa are clearly out of order. In
coming at our own conclusions as to the problem
INTERNAL EVIDENCE which fixes the upper limit
of the date, may be considered first.
1. Concerning the sources of the plays, we find
that the epic and the R膩m膩ya峁嘺 plays are based on the
two great epics, the Udayana plays are drawn from
historical traditions, the Avim膩raka from popular folklore
(or preferably a J膩taka story) and the Carudatta is
possibly of the poet's own creation. Now, Udayana,
Pradyota and Dar艣aka are historical personages and their
period has been generally accepted to be not later than
the 6th century B. C. The epics were certainly known
before this period, though in a different form to that we
have at present. Avim膩raka may be a legendary hero
who can be placed before this period, and C膩rudatta also
is not later.
Thus, Bh膩sa dramas are not earlier than the 6th
century B. C.
2. We find some 'historical data' in the Pratij帽膩,
Avi and Svapna. The Pratij帽膩 enumerates the royal
families of Northern India whose very memory would have
been lost in the post-Mauryan period after their
subjugation by Mah膩padmananda of Magadha before
384 B. C., and later by Candragupta, along with many
small Gana States. Bh膩sa's mention of them shows that
he must have been not far later in time than the period
of the Nandas or Candragupta. The kingdom of K膩艣墨
mentioned in the Pratijna and Avi had ceased to exist long
before the 5th century B. C. Again, the poet is aware of
Rajag峁沨a as the capital of Magadha, rightly placed in
Dar艣aka's time, and it was transferred to P膩峁璦liputra
subsequently. The Carudatta, which has no historical
background if stripped from the Mrcch mentions
P膩峁璦liputra in such a way as to raise doubts in the
readers' mind as to its being a capital. We would not
1 Smith, EHI, pp. 38, 39, 51; Rapson, CHI, pp. 311-313; Jayaswal,
JASB, pp. 267-269; Ghosh, OG, VIII, Summaries, pp. 66-67; Ketkar, Pr盲cina
Maharastra, pp. 140-148; Bhandarkar, Carm. Lect., pp. 69-71. 2 Cf. Macdonell,
HSL, pp. 285, 309; Venkataraman, MR, 1914, p. 598. C. V. Vaidya places the last
redaction of the Molt before third Century B. C. Cf. Upasa峁僪膩ra, p. 185.
H. Sastri, OC. V, p. 97; PB, 1929, p. 131; Bhide, Svapna, Intr, p. 40.
