Recent Russian Publications On Indian Epic

Author(s): J W De Jong
Publisher: J W De Jong

Page 42

42 THE ADYAR LIBRARY BULLETIN the description of the scene in the harem in Canto V of the Buddhacarita resembles a similar .description in R (5. 9-11). Referring to Winternitz's History of Indian Literature Grintser declares that in this case it is rather the epic which has been the imitator. Winternitz based himself upon Cowell's statement in the introduction to his edition of the Buddhacarita (Oxford, 1893). Since Cowell many scholars have studied the relations between R and the Buddhacarita. Recently V. Raghavan expressed his conviction that there is no doubt that Asvaghosa knew all three cantos of R (5. 9-11). However, the great value of Grintser's book is not impaired by the fact that, in this point as in some others, it is possible to disagree with him. Let us conclude by expressing the hope that his book will soon be translated into English. Every student of the Indian epic will be able to learn much from Grintser's work which undoubtedly will become a landmark in the history of the study of the Indian epic.3 1 See Johnston op. cit., p. xlviii, n. 1. ? " Buddhological Texts and the Epics', The Adyar Library Bulletin, 20 (1956), pp. 349-59. 3 I am much obliged to my colleague Igor Serebryakov for having presented me with a copy of Grintser's book.