He seeins to have been an exponent of the principles formulated by Dandin in his Kävyadarsa(na) and is credited with the authorship of seven Mahalavyas, several dramas, and prose works, and other writings. But the Kapphiņabhyudaya and a few stray verses make up ail that is left to us to read and admire. The Kapphiņabhyudaya is written in a highly orriate and compler style and only a scholar equipped with an intimate knowledge of Sanskrit grammar, language, thetoric, and literature and fully conversant with the modern critical method of study and research could do justice to it. This poem is an important link in the long chain of Sanskrit Kavyas in Kashmir and its value and importance can only be realised mirate and laborious study, suppiemented by the help afforded by the Editor's introduction. Sivasvamin is equally at home in Sanskrit and in Prakrit (Vide Canto six.). His imagination soars high and he displays exquisite poetic skill. The theme of bis work Buddhist story. He has adapted the simple Avadana story to his needs and has succeeded in producing a poem of a very high order, so that we might apply his own vords and say. that he was a pioneer of Citrakavya and well.versed in many stories (fartaageenay) and that the mere melody of his words filled the hearts of scholars with wonder (यहाणी श्रुतिमात्रछेरा सुधियां वेतश्चमत्कारिणी). My friend and colleague, Pandit Gauri Shankar, is an old pupil of mine. I have been watching his career svith rauch interest and have reason to feel proud cf him in that he has been able to bring out the first critical edition of this Mahakavya. He has spent full five years working at this diffi- cult Kavya and the result is a very useful and scholarly work
