Epigraphia Indica Vol 29

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 50

APPENDIX
RAJAPRASASTI INSCRIPTION OF UDAIPUR
(4 Plates) N. P. CHAKRAVARTI, New Delhi, AND B. CH. CHRABRA, OOTACAMUND This abnormally long inscription appears on twenty-five stone slabs, each measuring more or leas 3' high by 21 broad. Twenty-four of them are fixed in a row at short intervals into the wall of the Nauchauld ghat at the Rajasamudra, whilo one is found inside a marble pavilion. Rajasa mudra, popularly known as Raj Samand, is an artificial lake which lies to the north of Kankroli, a railway station on the Mavli-Phulad-Marwar Junction branch of the Udaipur State Railway, and is about 40 miles north-north-east of the city of Udaipur. The lake is a fine sheet of water, extending over three miles in length and a mile and a half in breadth. It is formed by a dam built at its south-western extremity. It is mainly fed by the water of the Gömati, but is also abundantly augmented by the rain-water draining into it from the surrounding hills.
The inscription comprises & mahakavya, entitled Rājaprasasti, consisting of twenty-four cantos. Twenty-four of the slabs contain each a canto, while the inscription on the twentyfifth consists merely of invocations to various deities, and as such it does not form an integral part of the poem proper. This invocatory section occupies the foremost position, though it was composed last of all, as is evidenced by its eleventh stanza wherein the poet invokes blessings for Rajasimba's son Jayasimha as well as for the latter's children. The poet informs us that he composed the prasasti by the order of Rajasimha, but that it was engraved on the stone slabs at the instance of his son and successor Jayasimha.
Although several instances are known of such lengthy records engraved on stone, yet the present one is perhaps the longest so far discovered. This remarkable poem has not yet been edited entirely or properly, though its contents have occasionally been noticed by some scholars. The work is important more as a narrative of events than anything else. It no doubt conforms to many of the conventional characteristics of a mahakävya, still it exhibits very little real poetic merit.
The script employed is Nagari, almost of the type prevalent at present. The language. is Sanskrit throughout, except that here and there some phrases or sentences in the local dialect
For detailed description of the ghaf as well as of its surroundings so Rai Bahadur G. H. Ojhs'. Rajpuldne ka Itihaa (Hindi), Vol. I, Ajmer, 1927, pp. 810 f.
Canto I, Verse 10. Canto V, Verse 51.
Two cantos, the second and the third, have been edited in the Prakrit and Sanskrit Inscriptions, Bhavde gar, pp. 145-184; but the text presented there is found inaccurate at several places. .
Prof. SH Ram Sharma of tho D. A. V. College, Labore, has undertaken to edit it. His work was to appear in the Panjab University Oriental Publications. We have seen a part of it in print and found that his treatment of the record is not atriotly scientific. Besides, his readings are not correct throughout.
Repocially by Osha, An. Rep. on the working of the Rajputana Museum, Ajmer, for the year onding 3let March 1918 Pp. 3 A.; Rajpuldne Itihde (Hindi), Vol. II, pp. 870 ff. d passim.