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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ OCTOBER, 1919
The Arthasastra of Kautilya throws some ligtand Parasamudraka is of variegated colour and on the matter. In Book II, Chapter XI, we have
smells like chacus or like Navamalika." the following passages :- Kauta, that which is obtained in the Kata ;
According to the commentator 'Parasamudraka' Mauleyaka, that which is found in the Maleya; and means that which is available in the island of Parasamudraka, that which is found beyond the Sinhala (Ceylon). From this it is clear that ocean, are several varieties of gems."
Parasamudrais Ceylon. Have we not in the "(As to) Agaru:
terin the Sanskrit original of Palæsimundu' ? Jongaka is black or variegated black and is
HEMORANDRA RAYCHAUDHURI. possessed of variegated spots; Dongaka is black;
BOOK-NOTICE.
THE HARSHACHARITA OF BANABHATTA (Uchchhaisas still clings to the old theory without even alluding
to Pandit Krishnamachariar's researches. He I-VIII), edited with an Introduction and Notes
still identifies, notwithstanding Prof. Pathak's and by P. V. Kane, M.A., LL.M. Bombay, 1918.
Dr. Vincent Smith's important contributions to The Harshacharita is one of the most difficult
the Vakataka chronology, Devagupta of Magadha Sanskrit prose kavyas causing much perplexity to
(A.D. 680-700) with the maternal grandfather of the University students; but Mr. Kane's annotations
VAkataka king, Pravarasena II. He has not a word will enable even private students to understand to elucidate the history of Kumara alias Bhaskar difficult passages full of puns. Mr. Kane has taken varman of Pragjyotisha from the latter's Nidhanpur great pains to elucidate the language with exple- inscription (BI., XII, p. 65). He has no note to nations, references to various Sanskrit texts and offer on the passage (p. 60). Sierra M ... parallel passages and has not passed over really
Vanemaur... FIESTATTFT ark..., difficult passages with the remark spashtam. Rather, he has clearly marked out the hard ones.
nor on (p. 51) a t Tamanter. atat. As for his hard verse I, 18, I like to take it and VYKU# 9frhrer. On Padmavati, the the next ono to mean that our poet says that capital of the Nagas (long ago identified by although his tongue, as if drawn inwards (for it is Cunningham with Narwar ), he writes, "What rashness on his part to write a biography of Harsha), particular city is meant we cannot say." He does not set about to write & poem even when he quotes the Rdjatanangini (1, 172-3) to state that remembers the great encouragement shown to him Nagarjuna was, according to it, a king (who lived by the rich king (Harshavardhana who made rich 150 years after Buddha)-a statement not fully presents to our poet), yet his devotion to the king correct for Kalhana says that Bhumisvara (and make him ma to atramnt it, though he is not not king) Bodhisatva NAgârjuna dwelt in the forest equal to the task.
of Six Arhate' and flourished during the reigns But the Harshacharita is not simply a kávya
of Kanishka, Hush ka and Jushka-but not requiring the knowledge of kora, eyåkarana and
those passages of it (II, 148: III, 54) which alan kana only to explain it. It is a historical poem
refer to Varuna's parasol in possession of the full of obscure historical allusions and Mr. Kane is
king of Assam and which ought to be quoted to not so very successful in his historical notes as he is
explain the present of Varuna's parasol made by
Bhaskaravarman to Harshavardhans as described in his explanatory ones. In spite of Dr. Schmidt's
in Uchoholsa VII. Assent (Ind. Ant., 1906, p. 215) to Pandit Krishnama.
His geographical notes are
rather vague : is it correct to state that Gandhåra chariar's theory (stated in the Introduction of his edition of Parvati-parinaya Vântvilasa, Skr.
is Kandahar or that Anga is North Bengal? Serice, Srirangam, 1906) that the Parvatf-parinaya W point out these shortcomings not in the was composed, not by the author of Kadambart but I spirit of fault-finding but in order to find the by Vámans Bhatta-Bâņa (of the Vdisya-gotra), the future publications of Mr. Kane to be free from author of Sabda ratna karanighandu and Virandra
similar defects. yanacharita (a biography of the Redi king V m alias Vfrankrilyans of the 15th century), Mr. K to
SURENDRANATH MAJUMDAR SASTRI
