SANSKRIT LITERATURE. The most natural, and, at the same tiros, the most scicn title dist I itaition of SnliSkIll literature would be that according to the dates at which its writ in.'s were composed. The actual condition of Sanskrit philology, however, renders such a course impossible; for, with the exception of very few works, no date %vhatever is known to which they could he assigned. (See INDIA—ReUgiOD; VEDA.) In* spite, therefore, of 1111 apparent plausibility with which sonic authors have propounded a regular literary chronology of Sanskrit works, even with figures or dates :•1 end( d to them, the general reader will do well to look upon all such dates as imaginary, ;HA to rest satisfied with the hope that perhaps future results of Sanskrit philology nay :afford amore satisfactory settlement of this vexed question of Sanskrit chronology'. Under these circumstances. the only possible arrangement of Sausgrit literature is that sug gested by their contents, irrespectively of the time at which they were compcsed, but, under each head, in that order which, within large margins, may be suggestive of con secutiveness.
1. Religious Literature.—It comprises, in the first place, the Vedas, and the mystical, philosophical, and ritual works connected with them (see VEDA and UPANISHAD); and secondly,'the Purfin'as (q.v.) and Taiitras (q.v.), besides prayer-books and smaller t works, and treatises of less importance relating to the modern worship, based on the two latter classes of works.
2. Lou' Literature.—It is comprised under the name of Dharrnas'6tra (from elwrma., law—religious and civil—and tetistra, hook), and its origin is traceable to the ritual Milts relating to the 'Vedas. A complete DharmasTistra consists of three pallet's: the first treating of Aelaira, or "established rules of conduct," comprising such matters as education, marriage. the funeral rites, the duties of a king, etc.; the second (tenting of Vyaralaira, or judicature, including law, private and criminal, and under the former, for instance. the law of inheritance and adoption; the third, on ProyaaWittu, of pelt:ince, treating. besides this subject, also of impurity, the duties of a devotee, transmigration, and final beatitude. The chief extant representatives of this class are the codes of ltlanu (q.v.) and Yajnaualkya (q.v.). Less complete than the latter—for it does not contain the Vyavaleara portion—is the code of Parrisara (q.v.); hut it deserves special mention, as the modern Hindus consider it to have been especially composed for the requirements of' the Kaliyuga, or die present mundane age, and as it is cited, therefore, as tie author ity, for instance, On the question, and in favor, of the remarriage of 11111(111 widows.
For practical ;impost s, especially those concerning Vyavaliara, the chief ileitis] authorities are the commentaries on Maim, TiljnaraMya, and similar works, and the digests which have grown up from them. Anic3g the former, the Mittishant (q.v ), by wars, occupies the principal rank; and aniongst the latter, the chin idina:9;i, Viratititro daya, Vrarandett-mayliklat, Stor'ittehandrika, and ryarllAcira-Mti(Thrrefo, which gen erally defer to the authority of the Mita:shard.; and, besides these, the Thiy«bhogn of which, like the Doyatattwa of Raghunandana, differs from it on several Important questions, for instance, on that relating to the hereditary rights of women. (Sec Mrr',InsilAu'A' ) As on the Vyavallara, there are numerous smaller treatisesbn the Aelffira and Prilyas'ehitta.
a Baikal Literatare.—(a.) The two great epic poems. See R.IMIYAN'A and MAnks nIlltiRATI.
(b.) The Modern P,pir Poems.—Tbgir subject-matter is entirely borrowed from the two great epic poetns and other legendary works; and their only merit consists in the art bestowed liv thrir torthors on the versification, and all that relates to the :esthetics] canon of Hindu poets, which, in some respects, may meet with the approbation of western critics, but, in others, would require in the European reader a total abnegation of his i leas of poetical heallly, in order to make these poems acceptable to him. _Minute descriptiveness, elaborateness of diction, and an abundance of figures of speech, are some of the characteristics of these poems, among which those of KtIlidfiss approach nearest our standard of poetical worth. One of them, the Bhattil•rya, which relates to the history of Mina. was purposely composed for illustrating rules of grammar and for mations of words of special interest. In another, the krill'haso-Patidattipa, the ambi guity of the diction is so studied that the poem may be interpreted as relating to the history of Hama, or other descendants of Das'aratha (see Wi.f.tAvAN'A), or to that of the descendants of l'atfil'n (see I'vlsitIntOatATA). The following are the Mul4-hcirvs, or great poems of this class; the Itayhucane'a and Kamdrasandaaru, by Kaildrisa (q.v.); the Notlodoya, also ascribed, though probably wrongly, to the same poet ; the Mud tilairrya, or the poem by i; the Saussitobudsk, by Mfigha, hence also called the Atayka kay,t; the „Nrafen.aaigachareta, by b'rtharsha; the A(rateiduoiya, by Isouravi; and the Beig;tarstssi.haVacilla, by Kavirilja (i.e., the prince of poets), 116 the author calls him self.