INTRODUCTION rally assigned to the 6th century A. D.refers to the distinction drawn between Kathi and Akhyayika, by certain writers, disapproves of it and finally says that both are different names for the same class of composition *. Dandin further says that an Akhyyika, should exhibit a profusion of compoundst. The lexicon of Amarasiiha defines Katha and Akhyayika, pointing out that the former is imnaginary and has very little historical value, while the latter deals with matters of history. Bana himself often alludes to the two classes of prose compositions s. Bana offers a glowing tribute of praise to the writers of Akhyayikis that preceded him. He refers to some peculiarities that distinguished the Akhyीyika from other classes of composi tion, ve, division into Uchchhvasas and the occurrence of the Vaktra metre. Bana himself clearly intimates that his Harslacharita is an Akhyayika |. The introductory verses to the Prvablaga clearly indicate that the Kadambar was intended to be a Katha ( technically so called). Th makes it clear that Bana did not strike out a new path in writing his two prose vorks, that he had before him certain 1works which went under the name of Akhyीyika, and that criticism had been busy in laying down canons for regulat ing the two classes of prose composition. opinions of some ( अपरे, अन्ये, &c. ) and these are found in Dandins work. ( 5 ) Tamil and Canareso writors belonging to the 8th century refer to him.
- See Kavyadars'a I. 23-80
तद्रूणां लघूनां च बाहुल्याल्पत्वमिश्रणैः । उच्चावचप्रकारं तद् दृश्यमा ख्यायिकादिपु । काव्यादर्श I. 81. + ‘आख्यायिकोपलब्धार्था अमर ० I. 6. 5; ‘प्रबन्धकल्पना कथा ’. 8 ‘काव्यनाटकाख्यानकाख्यायिकालेख्यव्याख्यानादिक्रियानिपुणै: p 3. of कादम्बरी (Peterson);‘कथासु नाटकेषु आख्यायिकासु काव्येपु' p. 75 (Peterson). { ‘उच्छासान्तेऽप्यखिन्नास्ते येषां वक्त्रे सरस्वती । कथमाख्यायिकाकारा न ते वन्द्यः कवीश्वराः ।’ हर्षचरित । तथापि नृपतेर्भक्त्याभीतो निर्वहणाकुलः। करोम्याख्यायिकाम्भोधौ जि हाप्लवनचापलम् ।' इर्षचरित ४ ‘द्विजेन तेनाक्षतकण्ठकण्ठ्यया महामनोमोहमलीमसान्धया । अलब्धवैदग्ध्य विलासमुग्धया धिया निबद्धेयमतिद्वयी कथा ।।
