Style of Kalhana

Style of Kalhana reveals the use of literary devices and allusions. He had the scope to indulge in the Kavya style of description. The true poetic power of the author is revealed in many episodes. Bhoja`s terrible journey over the snow-clad mountains in 1144 A.D., the funeral of Ananta and Suryamati`s Sati, the dialogue between the Brahmins and the tragic tale of Harsha`s isolation and misery are all instances of Kalhana`s power of simple and deeply affecting narrative.

The use of dialogues lends variety and dramatic power. Several varying forms of the same name have been used as Losthaka, Lothaka and Lothana. Kalhana diversifies the flow of the narrative by clever similes, antitheses, occasional plays on words and by means of varying the simplicity of the €loka metre. This is done by intervening more elaborate stanzas which has moral content. The language used is more intricate although graceful and elegant. The ideas used are not original and not rare. Some examples are:

bhujataruvanacchdydm yesdm nisevya mahaujasdm
jaladhiragand mediny dsld asdv akutobhaya
smrtim apt na te ydnti ksmdpd vina yadanugraham
prakrtimahate kurmas tasmai namah kavikarmane.

A bitter attack on women`s conduct as contrasting their beauty runs:

avdkdgah suarttdndm hrdaye `ntar na yositam
itiva vidadhe dhdtd suvrttau tadbahih kticau.

The wise king recognized the fleeting character of affluence:

gobhujdm vallabha laksmlr indtangoisangaldlita
seyam sprlidni samutpddya dusayaty unnatdtmanah.