The Beauty of Narration- A Brief Journey Through Sanskrit Prose Literature

Abstract

 Kavyas are of two kinds, Sravya and Drisya. Of the former, some are in verse and some in prose. Works in prose - Gadyaka vyas has been thus defined as what is bereft of verse that is prose. Of romances there are two classes, Katha and Akhyayika. Katha deals with the invented theme while the Akhyayika deals with the realities as in Harshacharita. Prose is the plain language of man that acts as a vehicle to convey the thoughts. Prose at the hands of writers like Bana and Subhandhu, reached a high standard with long compounds, double entendres and long descriptions and pleased a section of the elite of the society. Gadya was the touchstone of the real merit of a poet.