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Khāravela
49
prosperous (vardhamana) by conquests (abhivijayo), and there is apparently no allusion to Vena or his son Prthu. It also appears from the instant record that Khāravela never lost sight of this objective and almost every alternate year he led a campaign of conquest.
The passage Rajasi-vamsa-kula-vinisito in L 17 also does not contain any reference to the puranic king Rājarṣi Vasū. This epithet describes Khāravela as the 'Support or Refuge of the princely houses and families', and there is nothing unusual in it when we know of his successful expeditions against several princely houses and families.
By its very nature the record is very personal and the author does not mention even the names of any of his predecessors. The possibility of mentioning any legendary heroes is thus precluded. Literal meanings convey reasonable sense and there is no need or scope for assuming references.
An issue was born to him in the seventh regnal year. His name is not mentioned in this epigraph. The Mañcapuri cave, in front and to the south-east of Hathigumpha, contains three inscriptions respectively in the upper storey (Svargapuri), lower storey (Pātālapura) and a side wing of the lower storey (Yamapura), recording the dedications of the Agamahisi (Chief Queen) of Kalinga-Cakravarti Śrī Khāravela,' of Arya Mahārāja Kalingadhipati Mahāmeghavāhana Śri Kūdepa, and of Kumāra Vaḍukha.2 This cave appears to have been reserved exclusively for the members of the royal family. The issue born in the seventh year might be either Vaḍukha or Kūdepa, and it is also possible that Vaḍukha might be his childhood name and Kudepa, the proper name which he assumed on his succession. Such instances are not unusual.
Khāravela had at least two wives, namely, Vajiragharavati
1.
2.
Arahamta-pasādām Kāliṁgānaṁ-Samananam-leṇam kārito (,) Rājino Lalakasa Hathis(i)ha-sampanatasa dhutună KaligaCa(kavatino Siri-Khara)velasa Agamahisinä käritam. (Ibid., p. 159). Kumaro-Vaḍukhasa leṇam. (Ibid., p. 161).
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