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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1891.
(really importaut) portion of B. As the language of the originals is generally plain and easy to understand, my own remarks on these texts need not be many.
The inscription A. contains the end of the third act and a large portion of the fourth act of the Lalita-Vigrabaraja, a nataka composed, evidently in honour of the king Vigraharajadeva of Sakambhari, by the Mahákavi, the learned Somadeva. It opens with a conversation between Sasiprabha and the king (Vigraharaja), from which we may conclude that the king was in love with a daughter of a prince Vasantapala. The two lovers, one of whom apparently has seen the other in a dream, being separated, Saśiprabha, a confidant of the lady, is sent to ascertain the king's feelings; and, having attained her purpose, she is about to depart to gladden her friend with her tidings, when the king confesses that he cannot bear to part with Saśiprabhå, and proposes to send Kalyanavati to the princess instead. Accordingly Kalyanavati is despatched with a love-message, in which the king informs the lady that his march against the king of the Turushkas, a battle with whom appears to be impending, will soon give him an opportunity of joining her. Suitable preparations having been made for making Saśi. prabha's stay with the king comfortable, the latter goes to attend to his mid-day ceremonies Thus ends the third act.
At the opening of the fourth act two Turushka prisoners appear on the scene, which represents the camp of the king (Vigraharaja) of Sakambhari or a place close to it, in search of the royal residence. In their perplexity they lackily meet with a countryman, a spy, sent to the camp by the Turushka king. This man tells them how he has managed to enter the enemy's camp, in the guise of a beggar, together with a crowd of people who went to see the god Sômêsvara. He also informs them that the army of the Chahamana (Vigraharaja) consists of a thousand elephants, a hundred thousand horses, and a million of men; in fact, that by the side of it the ocean would appear dry. And having pointed out the king's residence, he departs. The two prisoners take their places near the royal quarters; they meet with the king, who is thinking of his beloved, address him (in verses which unfortunately are greatly daivaged in the text), and are sent away richly rewarded.
Vigraharaja now expresses his surprise that his own spy, whom he has sent to the camp of the Hammira, has not returned yet. But just then the spy comes back and informs his master of what he has been able to learn regarding the enemy's forces and his movements According to his account, the Hammira's army consists of countless elephants, chariots, horses and men, and his camp is well guarded. On the previous day it was three yojanas distant from Vavvêras, the place where Vigraharaja then is, but it is now located at a distance of only one yojana. There is also a rumour that the Hammira, having prepared his forces for battle, is about to send a messenger to the king.
The spy having been dismissed, Vigraharaja sends for his maternal uncle, the Raja Simhabala, and, having explained the state of affairs, consults with him and his chief minister Sridhara as to what should be done. The cautious minister advises not to risk a battle with the powerful adversary. But the king, intimating that it is his duty to protect his friends, is too proud to enter upon peaceful negotiations, and is encouraged by Simhabala to act according to his own views. While they are still consulting, the arrival of the Hammira's messenger is announced. The stranger is admitted into the royal presence, expresses his wonder at the
1 I know of no princa Vagantapala who lived in the 12th century A.D.; but the name looks as if it might balong to one of the Tômara princes of Delhi. See Archwol. Survey of India, Vol. I. p. 149.
1 SomAivaradeva, of course, might also be the name of a prince, and it should be noted that the ChAhumans Prithviraja was a son of Somtávara.
I give this name in ita Prikrit form, because I am not sure how to transcribe it in Sanskrit. An inscription published in Jour. Beng. As. Soc., Vol. LV. Part I. p. 42, apparently in line 12, mentions a place Vyaghréraka, which possibly might be th place intended by the Vavural of the play. If this were really the case, the place would be the modern BÁghêra, about 47 miles to the south-east of Ajmere. See Archæol. Survey of India, Vol. VI. p. 136.
