This is a historical type of work. It is written in prose style. There are eight sections / parts of it and those parts sections are known as 'Uchhavas'. This is the first book written in the form of 'Akhyayika'.
The main plot of this work is the life story of Harsh and that can easily be elicited from the title of the book. Bana has praised the works of Vyas, Bhasa, Kalidas, etc. in the first section i.e. Uchhavas. He has described his life (in the first three Uchhavasas) After that in his fourth to eight Uchhavasas he has delineated the character of king Harshavardhan.
He in the earlier part/section describes his moving about in the country. After that he narrates the character Harsha in response to the insistence of his cousins. The delineation of the character begins in the Puranic style. Very pleasing and words appropriate to the plot are used in the entire work. Here the principal 'Ras' emotion is bravery but occasionally tragic and other 'rasas'. emotions are also experienced.