The earliest extant reference to the Bhatkath seems to be that of Subandhu (5th

or 6th century AD?) in Vasavadatta.[2] Ba (7th century) refers to it in his

romances Harshacharita and Kadambari.[3] A reference by Dain in his
Kavyadarsha is problematic because it describes the Bhatkath as being marvelous
and as composed in the vernacular of the bhtas (evidently Paic). However, the
information appears to be second-hand. A fuller reference is provided in
Daakumracarita, whose author is possibly not the same Dain.[4] Later
references include the Daarpa of Dhanamjaya, Nalacamp of Trivikramabhaa,[5]
and rysaptaat of Govardhancrya.[6] A Cambodian inscription (c. 875)
expressly mentions Guhya and his aversion to Prakrit.[7] The earliest extant
Kannada work on grammar and poetics, Kavirajamarga by Nripatunga (c. 850),
mentions a now-lost Sanskrit version of Bhatkath by the author Durvinita. We can
safely assume the existence of a romantic work by Guhya before AD 600.
[citation needed]