2. Introduction
Kādambari is a romantic novel in Sanskrit. It was
written in the first half of the 7th century.
The novel is divided into two parts: Purbabhaga and
Uttarbhaga
Its central thread is that of a romantic attachment
between the hero Chandrapeeda and the heroine
Kadambari.
A large part of it is a retelling by a parrot of a story
which was told to it by a sage.
3. Source of the book
The plot has probably been adapted from the story of King
Sumanas from Gunadhya’s Brihatkatha (a conjectural
collection of stories in the extinct Paishachi language)
This story also appears in Somadeva’s Kathasaritsagara
(which is believed to be a Sanskrit precis of Gunadhya’s
work)
4. Uniqueness of Kādambari
This work can be plausibly claimed to be one of the first
novels in the world.
Two modern Indian languages (Kannada and Marathi) use
‘kadambari’ as a generic term for a romance or a novel.
5. Akhyayika
A story in prose concerning an elevated topic.
Story would be divided into parts called uchchwas.
Words used should be stylish and magnificent.
Hero himself would narrate his story.
Rhythm used should be Boktro and oporboktro.
Subject matter: abduction of a girl, battle, separation of hero and heroine.
Matter should be historical.
Should be written in Sanskrit.
6. Katha
No boktro and oporboktro shloka.
No division of story into parts. (Continued narrative)
Can be in Sanskrit or any other language.
Narrator should be someone else other than the hero.
No hint of story at the beginning of each part.
Matter should be imaginary.
Should be written in Sanskrit or any other vulgar Languages
7. Genre of Kādambari
The story is imaginary (not historical) – Katha
Not divided into uchchwas – Katha
Written in Sanskrit – Akhyayika/Katha
Hero is not the narrator – Katha
Not the story of the abduction of a girl – Katha
10. Summary in English
There is a valiant king named Shudraka, who rules over a vast and prosperous kingdom with the
capital city of Vidisha. One day, a Chandala (a low caste of forest-dwellers) maiden comes to his
court and makes a present of a parrot (named Vaishampayana) to the king.
After having eaten some tasty morsels and rested in the royal chambers, the parrot begins to
narrate his tale with the preamble, "Your Majesty, this is a very long story; but if you are
curious, it will be told." The parrot says that he used to live in the Vindhya forest with his aging
father. One day, the forest is overrun by Shabaras (a band of hunters) who kill an enormous
number of animals and cause great destruction. Vaishampayana's father is dragged from his
hollow and murdered.
After the commotion has died out, Vaishampayana wanders off, and eventually finds refuge in a
hermitage where he meets the divine sage Jabali. The latter stares at the parrot for a while and
remarks that "He is experiencing the fruit of his own misbehaviour." The other hermits become
curious at this remark, and Jabali begins to narrate the tale which fills a large part of the
'Kadambari’.
11. Important topics
Parrot as a narrator
Bana’s style of writing
Bana’s self introduction
Description of Nature
King Shudraka‘s rule
