Bāṇabhaṭṭa
Bāṇabhaṭṭa was a 7th-century Sanskrit prose writer and poet from India. He was the court poet of Emperor Harsha, during his reign at Kanyakubja. Bāna's principal works include a biography of Harsha, the Harshacharita and the novel Kadambari.
Also recorded as Biography of King Harsha, Romance
Bāṇabhaṭṭa
![Folio of a manuscript of the Harshacharita [Harṣacarita] by Banabhatta [Bāṇabhaṭṭa, also known as Bana], written in Sharada [Śāradā, Sarada] script. Digitized by eGangotri Digital Preservation Trust. 'Baramulla 4- Shri Harsha Charita (By Banabhatta) Sharada Manuscript - eGangotri Digital Preservation Trust'.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Folio_of_a_manuscript_of_the_Harshacharita_by_Banabhatta%2C_written_in_Sharada_script.jpg/1280px-Folio_of_a_manuscript_of_the_Harshacharita_by_Banabhatta%2C_written_in_Sharada_script.jpg)
Original work by Banabhatta [Bāṇabhaṭṭa], unknown scribe · [1] · Public domain
- Name
- Bāṇabhaṭṭa
- Occupation
- Poet, writer
- Birthplace
- Pritikuta
- Born
- 585
- Died
- 650 · Kannauj.
- Nationality
- Empire of Harsha
- Known for
- Kadambari
- Languages
- Sanskrit · Marathi
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Documentary summary
Bāṇabhaṭṭa was a 7th-century Sanskrit prose writer and poet from India. He was the court poet of Emperor Harsha, during his reign at Kanyakubja. Bāna's principal works include a biography of Harsha, the Harshacharita and the novel Kadambari.
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Documentary basis
Authority files
gnd · 119290936 · wikidata · Q171202 · wikipedia · Bāṇabhaṭṭa
In this article
Biography
Biography
Bāṇa died before finishing the novel and it was completed by his son Bhūṣaṇabhaṭṭa. Both these works are noted texts of Sanskrit literature. The other works attributed to him are the Caṇḍikāśataka and a drama, the Pārvatīpariṇaya. Banabhatta gets an applause as "Banochhistam Jagatsarvam" meaning Bana has described everything in this world and nothing is left.
![Title-page of a Harshacharita commentary published by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir State, via the Vidya Vilas Press, Jammu, 1880. Possibly a Hindi commentary as per: [1]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Title-page_of_a_Harshacharita_commentary_published_by_Maharaja_Ranbir_Singh_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir_State%2C_via_the_Vidya_Vilas_Press%2C_Jammu%2C_1880.jpg/800px-Title-page_of_a_Harshacharita_commentary_published_by_Maharaja_Ranbir_Singh_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir_State%2C_via_the_Vidya_Vilas_Press%2C_Jammu%2C_1880.jpg)
Title-page of a Harshacharita commentary published by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir State, via the Vidya Vilas Press, Jammu, 1880. Possibly a Hindi commentary as per: [1]
Original work by Banabhatta. Commentary published by Maharaja Ranbir Singh of Jammu and Kashmir State, via the Vidya Vilas Press · [2]
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bāṇabhaṭṭa • Occupation — Poet, writer • Works — Harshacharita, Kadambari • Father — Chitrabhānu • Mother — Rājadevi • Birthplace — Pritikuta • Children — Bhūṣaṇabhaṭṭa (son) • Relatives — Mayūrabhaṭṭa (brother-in-law)
Biography
Biography
A detailed account regarding his ancestry and early life can be reconstructed from the introductory verses attached to the Kadambari and the first two ucchāvasas of the Harṣacarita, while the circumstances behind the composition of the Harṣacarita are described in the third ucchāvasa of the text. Harsacarita is considered as the first Indian work which may be regarded as a historical biography. It gives a vivid picture of life in the Indian countryside. Bāna was born to Chitrabhānu and Rājadevi in the village of Pritikuta in a Kanyakubja Brahmin family. His mother died early leaving him in the loving care of his father. His father married again and had two more sons. After the death of his father when he was 14, Bāṇa led a colourful and wandering life with his half-brothers for a period but later came back to his native village. Here, on a summer day, on receiving a letter from Krishna, a cousin of Emperor Harsha, he met the emperor while he was camping near the town of Manitara. After receiving Bāna with mock signs of anger, the emperor showed him much favor.
Works
Works
List of Sanskrit plays in English translation * • Bana (tr. G. Layne), Bāṇabhaṭṭa Kādambarī. A Classic Sanskrit Story of Magical Transformations (New York: Garland, 1991). • Harshacharita: The Harshacharita is the biography of Indian emperor Harsha by Banabhatta. The Harshacharita was the first composition of Bana and is considered to be the beginning of the writing of historical poetic works in the Sanskrit language.
Biography Books
Biography Books
* * *
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
585
Bāṇabhaṭṭa born.
650
Bāṇabhaṭṭa died at Kannauj.
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q171202: Bāṇabhaṭṭa
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 119290936, Bāṇabhaṭṭa.
General reference · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
reference work
- “Bāṇabhaṭṭa”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Encyclopædia Britannica. Sthanvishvara (historical region, India).
- 2.Amaresh Datta. Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: devraj to jyoti. Sahitya Akademi. 1339–. 1988. 978-81-260-1194-0.
- 3.Sreedharan, E, "A Manual of Historical Research Methodology." Trivandrum, Centre for South Indian Studies, 2007, https://books.google.com/books?id=TG6PXBKwXNMC
- 4.Singh, Upinder. History Of Ancient And Early Medieval India From The Stone Age To The 12th Century. Penguin Books Limited. 110.
- 5.J. Krishnamoorthy. Makers of Indian literature. Sahitya Akademi.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q171202: BāṇabhaṭṭaWikimedia Foundation
Institutional witnessauthority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 119290936, Bāṇabhaṭṭa.Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Secondary witnessreference work
Secondary witness
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the heading Biography of King Harsha, Romance. His recorded languages were Sanskrit and Marathi. One child is recorded: Bhushanbhatta.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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