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BOOK REVIEW
Humour in Sanskrit Literature (Samskṛta Sahitye Häsyarasa) where he had shown how the Sanskrit Kavya-writers were conscious about it. But the present author has surpassed all his predecessors, particularly in the case of the Mṛcchakatika. The writer has given several examples with English translation. We only wish he had given more than what were presented in the chapter. I hope the readers will enjoy this chapter.
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The contemporary society (ch. VII) as depicted by Professor Banerjee in the seventh chapter of his book is mainly based on the Mṛcchakaṭika, even though the author has said that "the Mṛcchakatika and the Dasakumaracarita are the two major works in Sanskrit literature which provide us with the most detailed information about their respective times" (p. 114). The subject is so vast and the materials are so abundant that it is impossible to give a complete picture of the society of the Mṛcchakatika in thirteen pages, but yet the author has described them in a compact way. By reading this chapter we are quite at home with the society of Śūdraka. All his references point to the time of Sūdraka alone. Though R.G. Basak, as early as 1929 wrote an article (Indian Society as pictured in the Mṛcchakatika, IHQ, Vol-V, 1929, pp. 299-325) on the society of the Mṛcchakatika, Banerjee's scope has gone beyond the periphery of that article. Incidentally, he has compared with other literary documents to show how those features of the society have perpetuated down to the later stages. Professor Banerjee is right when he concludes: "The society of Śūdraka seems to have been a rich, opulent and lively one with all virtues and vices, qualities and defects, strength and weaknesses that can be conceived of any society of any time in any country" (p. 125).
One of the good things of the book is the selection of some verses and good sayings in the appendices A and B. Although the text is not edited, some 105 beautiful verses and 52 proverbial sayings have been selected in original with English translation and notes. These verses will enable the readers to appreciate the best part of the drama, and to know the power of observation of Śūdraka as a dramatist, and these will serve the purpose of almost reading the text. The English translation is very apt and will help the reader to understand the text. These selections will also prove what Professor Banerjee has said in his earlier chapters about Śūdraka.
In appendix C (Selected important words in the Mṛcchakatika), some interesting words from the Mṛcchakatika are picked up and have been explained. This theme is a new one, and I personally feel
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