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Introduction
CIXL
about to march that Bhima was attacking Mälava and thus compelling Bhoja to sue for peace with a present to Bhima of an elephant and his female. The P. C., lastly, mentions an attack by Karna of Chedi on Malava when Bhima assisted Karna as an ally. After Karna won in the battle, he refused to share the gains with Bhima, so the latter sent Damara against Chedi who managed to get a share in the spoils from Karna. This is the same incident which Hemachandra describes in the D. K. and which enables us to identify Damara of the Prabandhas with Damodara of the D. K.
The P. P. S. and the P. C. relate many incidents which reveal a state of political and cultural rivalry between Gujarat and Mālava. Many of the stories in the P. C. turn round the uncommon wit and intelligence of the Brahmana Minister for War and Peace-Damara or Damodara. He seems to be the Birbala of the P. C. x We are able to gather from the Prabhavakacharita that already in the time of Bhimal Anahillapura has developped into a great centre of intellectual activity. The Prabhavakacharita being devoted to the great men of Jaina religion naturally gives prominence to the learned men of that religion. But from the background it provides, we gather that poets and dialecticians of different sects from different parts of India visit the capital of Gurajaradeșa. And even in the case of the learned men of the Jaina sect, their
X The uncommon wit and wisdom of Damara seems to have become almost proverbial in Gujarat; for we have still the habit of saying in the Gujarati language : डाह्यो डमरो थजे
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Be a wise Damaro!' For the famous well of Damodara see further on.
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