The story of Kadambarl is interesting for several reasons.
It is standard example of. classical prose ; it has enjoyed
a long popularity as a romance ; and it is one of the com-
paratively few Sanskrit works which can be assigned to a
certain date, and so it can serve as a landmark in the
history of Indian literature and Indian thought. Bhanabhatta, its author, lived in the reign of Harsha- vardhana of Thrineyar, the great king men- tioned in many inscriptions,-^ who extended
his rule over the whole of Northern India, and from whose
reign (a.d. 606) dates the Harsha era, used in Nepal.

Samkshipta gadya ka vikas, Samkshipta katha-sutra purvartha, Kadambare ke visishtata.