In modern times, the writing of bi-textual poems is looked down upon and is considered as an inferior literary activity.
In a more general setting, in the traditions of Sanskrit literature, the moon itself is imagined to be the king of the stars.
Śleṣa appears prominently for the first time in the writing of the sixth century CE poet Bhāravi.
The earliest literary creation which used śleṣa extensively is Vāsavadattā, a work written entirely in prose by a sixth century author by name Subandhu.
Nothing much is known about the author Subandhu.The work Vāsavadattā must have been highly acclaimed and popular and this is attested by the fact that it has caused more than twenty commentaries to be written.