Lilavai

SR No.: 002796
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1966
Total Pages: 500
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi, English
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

Page 70

INTRODUCTION
43
of their marital pleasures; and she resolved to stay with them in the hermitage and to marry only after they were happy.
King Sātavāhana felt despondent at this development. He sent a Necklace as a present to Lilâvati, and in return he received a Ring from her. He had his teacher in Nāgārjuna who, in order to remove his despondency, took him to Patüla with a big party of servants, princes and poets. With the aid of the Ring he rescued Madhavänila from the serpents in Pātāla: thus Mahānumati got back her beloved. Later, Sātavāhana killed in a battle
mon Bhisaņānana out of whom emerged Citrängada at the end of the curse: thus Kuvalayāyali also meets her husband. In this manner king Satavahana removed the hindrances in the way of Līlāvati's marriage; she happily weds him; eminent relatives and guests at the function bestow divine attainments on him; and he becomes a universal sovereign.
The author mentions the Hero by various names, some of alternative spelling, such as Salavāhana, Sālāhana and Häla.' Undoubtedly he has in view a mighty king of yore who has won remarkable eminence in Indian history, legends and literature.
The inscriptions and coins connected with the so-called Andhra, Andhrabhrtya or Satavāhana dynasty are a valuable source of information. Some of the inscriptions clearly testify to the existence of a race or family of Sada-or Sata-vāhanas. One can easily surmise that Häla stood for Sada in a local Prākrit dialect, and that Sāda is a shortened form of Sadavåhana. The legend Sātasa occurring on coins is taken by scholars to stand for Sädakarņi, though it may as well be equated, at least in some cases, with Satavāhana which is a title borne by the kings of that dynasty. Lately, however, a couple of coins have come to light, and they clearly
1 Hemacandra's Prakrit Grammar i. 8, 211 gives Satavahana = Salahana and
Salavahaņa. His Dešinamamila VIII. €6: Salahanammi Halo, com. Halo Satavahanan; also II 36: Halammi Kuintalo, com. Kuntalo Satavahanah, and III, 7: Halammi Cairacimdho, com, Caüracimdho Satavahanah. In his Sanskrit
lexicons too he equates Hala with Satavāhana. 2 Rapson : Catalogue of Indian Coins, Andhras etc., London 1908, see pp. xlvi ff.,
also D. C. Sircar : Select Inscriptions, I, Calcutta 1942, pp. 183 ff.; K,
Gopalachari : Early History of the Andhra Country, Madras 1941. 3 Compare Godavari > Goda > Gola. Therein has been noticed the change of
sibilants to h: Thus Haku = Sakti, Hala = Sala (Sata) probably also Hiru = Śri, Hatakani = Satakarni," Rapson : Op. cit. p. xx.