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315
Oct. 4, 1872.)
SANSKRIT AUTHORS. of the greatest of the sovereigns of India. He ascertained that Sangrâma ascended the throne was distinguished for his learning, his patronage in 1027 A.D., and his son Ananta in 1052, and of Sanskrit literature, and liberality to the poor. Harsha the grandson of the latter in 1059. Several marvellous stories are related of him in This last prince reigned only twelve years and the account of him called the Vikramarkacha- consequently Somadeva must have written the rita. He is there figured somewhat as Charle- Kathasarit Sågar between 1059 and 1071. (Wilmaigne and Arthur are in the romances of the
son on Hindu Fiction). From this it may be inMiddle Ages. Whatever may be the authenti
ferred that the Vasavadatta was posterior to the city of the Vikramacharita and other books Brihatkaths and that its author must have which give accounts of him, they prove
flourished in the twelfth century. We learn
the following from beyond all doubt, that this sovereign was most
tradition. Subandhu, the popular, that his reign was a long one and was
author of the Vasavadatta, wrote the poem with distinguished by many great deeds and that he
a view to be rewarded by Vikramárka, and beWas very religious and protected the Varnas- fore he completed it that sovereign died. The ramadharma or duties of caste and the religious author finding a new sovereign on the throne orders. He is said to be the author of a kosha or
who was destitute of the learning, taste, and lexicon; but of what kosha, we cannot ascertain. judgment necessary to appreciate his poem, beFrom a catalogue of books sent by Brahman came hopeless and vented his despair in the from Kadappa, it would appear that this book is stanza quoted above. From this it follows that the Sansaravarta; but this statement is contra- Subundhu was a contemporary of Vikramarka. dicted by Medinikara, who in a list of lexico
Who this Vikramarka was we cannot determine. graphers, enumerates most of the kosbas which
According to Major Wilford's Essay on Vi
kramarka and Salivahana, there were three are prior to his book, and there mentions the kosha of Vikramarka as a separate book. While
Vikramarkas who were all alike celebrated for from the Haravali it appears that the Bansara
their power, greatness, and good government.
The first of them was the Vikramarka who varta was written by Vikramarkat He is also said to be the author of a treatise
flourished before Christ and is said to have been on music.
killed by Salivahana. The second was the same The name of Vikramaditya was assumed by
with Srikama Deva. This prince is said to several kings and this, as remarked above, oc
have reigned A.D. 191. The third Vikramacasions some confusion. Subandhu in his V!
ditya commenced his reign in 441. The second savadatta says
of these three princes was also called Sadraka.
In the Skanda Purâņa, Kumarika Khanda it is Sarasavattâ vigatâ navakâ vilasanti
said that a great king named Badraka will charati no kankah. Sarasva kirtiseshum reign in the year of Kaliyuga 3290, that is in gatavati bhuvi Vikramaditye
198 A.D. This agrees well with the former Now Subundhu quotes the Brihatkatha which
date. But we are not certain about the identity is believed to be the same as the Kathåsarit
of those kings, for the Skanda Purana does not Sagara. But the author of this book says he specify the Sudraka of whom it speaks. compiled it for the recreation of the grand- There is a short grammatical treatise in mother of Harshadeva; and this prince is said Sanskrit containing about 700 anushtup stanzas in the Râjataringin to have been the son of divided into four chapters, and called Prayoga Kulasa, the son of Ananta, the son of Bangri- chandrika. The author calls himself Vesalamarkjá. From a reliable source it has been bhupati, the ornament of the Chogan dynasty. • उत्पलिनीशब्दाएवि संसारवर्तना ममालाख्यान् |
अपिविश्वरूप विक्रमादित्य नामालिंगााजे सुविचार्य भा मारवरकीचशाश्वतेवा पालिततिदेवहर कोपान ||
कात्यायनवामन चंद्रगोमिरचितानि लिंग शास्त्राणि|6| भमर शमांगहलायुधगोवर्धेनर भसपालकतकोषान् | महाम रदत्ता जयगंगाधर धरागे कोषाध ||
+शब्दाणरि उप्पलिनी संसारावर्तइत्यपि रावळ्यमिधानं त्रिकांउ शेषंचरबमालाच!
कोषावाचस्फतिव्या विविक्रमादित्यनिर्मिताः 799 1 RTRETT NET
भादायसारमेने षामन्येषांचविशेषत: नामट माधव वाचस्पति धर्मव्याउितारपालापान । Prodamaian DETTA?: Haravali.
Medini.
