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Sanskrit Literature / 83
780, when Jinasēna was in the prime of youth, and the exuberance of creative grace flows freely with lyrical elegance.
4.5.4.4.2. Adopting verbatim, generally the last line of Kālidasa's Mēgha-sandeśa, and adding the first three lines of his own composition, Jinasēna has achieved remarkable exultation. Students of textual criticism find it useful that abovt 400 pādas, original lines of Kālidāsa are preserved here as it existed in eighth century. In the stylistic variations of samasyāpūrtis in Pādavēștita (taking any one line from Mēghaduta stanza), Ardhavēstita (taking any two lines) and Antaritāvēstita (employing either first and fourth, or second and fourth, or first and third, or second and third lines). Thus, Jinasēna chiselled and redefined original Mēghasandēśa and enhanced the glory of Sanskrit poetry. But the fact remains that Jinasena's Pārśvābhyudaya kõvya is a better poem, but Kālidāsa's Mēghasandeśa is the best poem.
4.5.4.4.3. If Pārśvābhyudaya was a better poem of a youngman, Adipurāṇa was the best poem of a nestor author. Jinasēna composed it at his very old age of above 90, perhaps in C. E. 845-50.
4.5.4.4.4. In Adipurana, a biography of Rşabha, the first Ford Maker, while enumerating the conquests of Bharata, son of Rşabha and the first universal emperor, Jinasēna has mentioned a number of his contemporary southern kingdoms, big and small: Antara Pāņdya, Ausa, Cora, kachāndhra, Karņātaka, Kērala, Kūțastha-Aulika (Aluka?), Māhișaka, Mēkura, Pāņdya, Prātara, Punnața and Trikalinga. Bharata after crossing the river Godāvari, defeated Karņāțaka. According to Jinasēna, the people of Karņāțaka wore strange dress and fond of turmeric and betel leaves, which is very true of the Mahārāștrians also. Finally Bharata came to Vaijayanta-mahādvăra near the sea, which is the modern Banavāsi. Decidedly Adipurāņa is a popular
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