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Kathavate's introduction
४६
than showing his own skill in devising new modes of adulation and winning for his work the name of a Mahākāvya, the purposes of antiquarian inquiry would have been better served. As it is, the poem throws some light on the obscure period when the Anahillavāda house was superseded by the Dhavalakkaka nouse. But before making an analysis of the facts contained in the poem, it will be well to note what is known of the author and make some estimate of the merits of his writings.
II
The name of the author is Somesvaradeva. It is mentioned at the end of each canto and also in the body of the poem. At the end of each canto it is mentioned that the poet was the family-priest of the king of the Gurjaras. In the beginning of the poem the poet says, "Sri Someśvaradeva delineates the character of Vastupala, seeing that minister's devotion to himself (Someśvara, the author) is extreme, that his (the minister's) family is illustrious, his personal appearance splendid, his conduct excellent, his charity accompanied by courtesy, his elevated position such as humbles his foes, his talents such as defy those of Brihcspati, his mercy such as crushes all germ of fear, his fame an ornament of the earth, his administration regulated by justice." He further declares, in his own way, that it was genuine admiration of his hero that prompted the poem. He says, "in consequence of the excessive joy at finding a treasure of rubies in the excellent qualifications of the great minister, the muse of Sri Someśvara is impatient to sing." Further on the poet mentions that he was the priest of Lavaṇaprasada of Dhavalakkaka, a prince descended from one of the kings of Anahillapura.
I have met with several inscriptions composed by Somesvara two in the temple on Mount Abu, built by Vastupala's brother, are given in the Appendix. These are dated 1297 Samvat or 1241 A. D. There is a third at Dabhoi, in the territory of His Highness the Gayakvada, on one side of the gate called Hira Bhagola. Greater part of it has become illegible. The stone on which it is inscribed is broken, and many lines are altogether effaced. It contains several found in the Kirtikaumudi and in one of the inscriptions on Mount Abu. The line in which the author's name is mentioned runs thus :
प्रशस्तिमेतां
• शसंभूतभूपालपुरोहितेन्द्रः । चकार सोमेश्वर देवनामा यामार्धनिष्पन्नमहाप्रबन्धः ।
It is dated 1311 Samvat (1255 A. D.) Jyeshtha Sudi Budha Dine. Wednesday the ...... day of the moonlight fortnight of Jyeshtha. The inscriptions in Vastupala's temple on the Satruñjaya hill are the composition of this poet. I have, not seen them, but from the photographs which Dr. Bühler kindly showed to me, I find they are dated 1288 Samvat (1232 A. D.), the 10th day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna.
......
From this evidence it is clear that Somesvara was the family-priest of Bhimadeva of Anahillavada Pattana and of Lavanaprasada of Dholka; and that he was patronised by the two Jaina ministers, Vastupala and Tejhpala whom he entertained by his witty poems panegyrics. The Chaturvinsati Prabandh of
1 Page 5, Sts. 45 to 48 2 Page 16, St. 84. 3 This work was written in 1405 Samvat, or 1349 A. D., at the instance of Mahanasimha at Dhilli (Delhi?).
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