i S3
tales—are accepted to have had their existence as early as the-council of Vaisali 6.0.380 and it was seven centuries later; |T they were embodied in the Sutta-pitaka.
The present recension however is in its essence a production of the brahmins who naturally attempted to efface all traces;; of their hostile religion in a work which, amusive and instructive as it was, was more to create anti-brahminicaL feelings among them, if left untouched. The whole text was translated into Persian in the reign of Nausharvan (531-572 A.D,) and it is a safe conclusion therefore that the Sanskrit compilation was complete at the latest in the sixth century A.D.
Originally intended as a manual of general instruction in> ^fr~ the principles of conduct, it has maintained, fora period of more than thirteen centuries, its reputation, as the fountain-head of the elements of the Ethical Science. The work is-divided into five parts which division obviously accounts for the name of the work itself. As to the nature of the work, it is u pervaded by a quaint humour which transfers to the animal kingdom all sorts of human action." Irony and satire are abundantly the means of exposing the various human vices-; and frailties and hyperbole, which, according to European critics, is what mars the charm of oriental literature, interferes least with the practical instruction herein set forth. The language is easy and flowing and does not exhibit the vices of laboured artificiality that crept into the prose-composition of later days. The natural and unstrained expression of thoughts, as illustrated by the contemporary writings in the W Mrit-chakatika, is seen throughout the work and the style p suits the object of the work best. The style is in a word to thee tales, -ptrfly mythical, partly didactic and partly allegorical, reappear in a more archaic dress in the Brahmanas.e been pleased with hisa of his court and the rest by himself. It is doubted if the work had really anything to do with the royal author. Perhaps his name was purchased. BhojVs poetry is even more appreciated than his prose ; for in the latter the vices described of later Sanskrit prose had already begun to make their mark. Yet the language is very harmonious and musical. His choice of words is especially noteworthy. Tradition, unsupported however