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JUNE, 1887.)
DATE OF THE POET RAJASEKHARA.
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what I have to say. But even the limits thus paramount sovereign of Aryavarta, i.e. of established leave the rather long period of a Northern India, above the Vindhya range. century and a half, within which Mr. V. Sh. Again, a passage quoted by Mr. V. Sh. Apte is not able to find anything to settle the Apte (p. 20) from the colophon of the Karpoet's date more definitely.
púramanjari runs,- iti sriman MaharashtraWe have, however, now to notice a passage, chudamaņina Mahendrapal-pâdhyâyêna RAoriginally commented on by Prof. H. H. jasekharéna båla-kaviná kavirajêna virachito Wilson, in his account of the Balabharata or nataka-viśêshë Karpûramaõjari-nâmakê sattake Prachanda-Pándava of Rajasekhara, in the chaturtham javanikântaram samậptam, -"thus Hindu Theatre, Vol. II. p. 361f., which has ends the fourth scene in the drama named always been recognised as containing facts Karpúramasjari, a kind of play, composed by which would determine the period of the poet, the young poet, the court-poet, Rajasekhara, if only the identity of the other persons men- the ornament of the famous country of) tioned could be established.
Maharashtra," (and) the spiritual teacher of The passage occurs in the Introduction Mahendrapala." From which we obtain the to the play. And the text, as given by Mr. name of his pupil, Mahendrapala. V. Sh. Apte (p. 9) rune
And in other places (pp. 12, 13, 18), RajaTatra cha
Bókhara calls himself the son of a Mahamantrin Namita-Marala-manlih påkald MêkalAnam or 'high minister;' the Greru or Upddhyâya,
rana-kalita-Kalingah keli-tat Keral-&ndoh the spiritual preceptor or teacher,' of Nir. sjani jita-Kulûtah KuntalanÂm kuthårah
bhaya or Nirbhayardja; and" the Guru of hatha-hřita-Ramatha-srih śrt-Mahipala- Mahendrapala, the crest.jewel of the family
devaḥ 11 of Raghu. Têna cha Raghu-vamsa-muktamaņina Aryd- These passages give us three kings; first, varte-maharajadhirAjena sri Nirbhayanaren- one whose own name is not given, but who dra-nandanên=adhikritâh sabhâsadah sarvan= is mentioned under the birudas of Nirbhaya, égha vô Guņakaraḥ s8-praśrayam vijñåpayati, Nirbhayanarendra, and Nirbhayarâja; sedo.," and, in that (lineage of Raghu), there condly, his son Mahipala, & paramount sovewas born the glorious Mahipaladeva, who has reign of Northern India, at whose court, or by bowed down the locks of hair on the tops of whose command, the Bálabharata was played ; the heads of the Muralas; who has caused the and thirdly, Mahendrapala, whose connection Mêkalas to suppurate; who has driven the with Nirbhayanarendra and Mahipala is not exKalingas before him in war; who has spoilt the plained, but who, since Rajasekhara was the pastime of the king who is the moon of the Upadhyâya of both him and Nirbhayanarendra, Keralas; who has conquered the Kulatas; who is may reasonably be assumed, to be either another a very are to the Kuntalas; and who by violence son or a grandson of Nirbhayanarendra. has approprinted the fortunes of the Ramathas. | Mr. V. Sh. Apte, however, following pagAnd, to all the members of (this) Assembly, gestion thrown out quite tentatively by Prof. presided over by him, the pearl-jewel of the H. H. Wilson, makes the curious mistake of lineage of Raghu, the Mahárájddhiraja of identifying Mahendrapala with Mahipala, and Aryavarta, the son of the glorious Nirbhe thằs of speaking of "Mahipala or Mahồndrayanarandra, this your humble servant), pala" (p. 10) and “Mahendrapala or Mahipala" Guņakara, 10 with modesty makes & request.”
(p. 18). From this we learn that the play was acted But the two names are so perfectly distinct before an assemblage of guests, invited by a in their meaning, that they cannot possibly king of the lineage of Raghu, whose name indicate one and the same person. was Mahipala ; who was the son of a king Now, from another passage quoted by Mr. whose biruda or title was Nirbhayanaröndra, V. Sh. Apte (p. 11, note) we learn that the lit. 'the fearless king'; and who was the town at which the Bálabharata was performed,
0 4. the Betradhdra, or other stage official, who is Other passages slao shew that, by, birth, Rajnatspeaking.
khara belonged to Southern Indis family.
Subhashitdeal, Introd. p. 108.
