Dhanwantari enlightened the world upon the subjects of medicine and of incantations. Kshapanaka treated the primary elements. Amara-Singha compiled a Sanskrit dictionary and a philosophical treatise. Shankubetálabhatta composed comments, and Ghatakarpara a poetical work of no great merit. The books of Mihira are not mentioned. Varáha produced two works on astrology and one on arithmetic. And Bararúchi introduced certain improvements in grammar, commented upon the incantations, and wrote a poem in praise of King Mádhava.
But the most celebrated of all the patronised ones was Kalidása. His two dramas, Sakuntala,[1] and Vikram and Urvasi,[2] have descended to our day; besides which he produced a poem on the seasons, a work on astronomy, a poetical history of the gods, and many other books.[3]
- ↑ Translated by Sir Wm. Jones, 1789; and by Professor Williams, 1856.
- ↑ Translated by Professor H. H. Wilson.
- ↑ The time was propitious to savans. Whilst Vikramaditya lived, Magha, another king, caused to be written a poem called after his name For each verse he is said to have paid to learned men a gold piece, which amounted to a total of 5,280l. — a large sum in those days, which preceded those of Paradise Lost. About the same period Karnata, a third king, was famed for patronising the learned men who rose to honour at
Gandharba, Rakshasa, Ardhamagadi, Apa, and Guhyaka — most of them being the languages of different orders of fabulous beings. He tells us, however, that an account of these dialects may be found in the work called Pingala.
a
