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Introduction
CLVII
who would not not have described their passionate love in such glowing terms if the things were as described in the P. C.. If the facts were as the P. C. relates Hemachandra would rather have remained. silent on the point. The other part of the scandalous story that the minister Munjala secretly substituted Mayaṇalla for a low-born woman to whom Karṇa was attached and that consequently she bore a child may equally be discredited.
The P. C. tells us that when Jayasimha was three years old, he mounted the throne in play. This being rather ominous the king, acting on the advice of his astrologers, crowned the boy king. He then went to suppress the turbulent Bhilla chief Aṣa of Aṣāpalli and founded a city, or more probably renamed Aṣapalli which became known after him as Karṇāvatī, and ruled there as king. The suppression of Așa and the founding of the city or renaming Aṣāpalli are historical facts. But the crowning of Jayasimha at the age of three does not seem probable.
The Dvyasraya tells us that when Jayasimha had finished his studies and was coming of age, Karna after consulting his ministers asked him to accept the throne so that he might lead a retired life, devoted to Hari (God). Jayasimha first refused but on his father pressing him, he consented, and so was crowned king. Karna asked Jayasimha to look after his brother's son Devaprasada and his descendants.
The P. P. S. tells us that when Jayasimha was eight years old, Ṣrī Karṇa died. He was trained for rulership (Gunaṣreņi) by the minister Santu even when he was eight years old (p. 35).
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