Kalhana's Rajatarangini is the most renowned historical poem that documents the oldest and most comprehensive history of the legendary kings of Kashmir, while also providing accounts of the Kashmirian kings from the historical period. It is composed of eight chapters and relies on earlier sources, particularly the Nilamata Purana. Sir Stein, recognizing the invaluable significance of this unique work, managed to publish a critical edition of the text as early as 1892. The relevance of this treatise to Indian history lies in its representation of a type of Sanskrit composition that closely resembles the chronicles of Medieval Europe and the Muhammadan East. Alongside the later Kashmir chronicles that extend Kalhana's narrative, it stands as virtually the only surviving example of this genre. The author's aim is to present a cohesive narrative of the various dynasties that governed Kashmir from the earliest times up to his own era. The concluding section of the work, notable for both its length and historical significance, is dedicated to recounting events that the author either experienced firsthand or learned from the accounts of contemporary witnesses. These events are described from the perspective of a relatively independent chronicler, rather than being solely the laudatory focus of a court poet.
