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or two literary works and also have prepared for the pleasant and highly responsible duty of presiding at the coming conference in Trivandrum. I am impressed with the importance of the Conference, and I highly appreciate the honour of presiding. But what I value no less is the opportunity of meeting old friends in India and conferring with them concerning common studies and united action.
I must now say just one word in answer to your inquiries concerning the Mathura Inscription and the Edicts of Asoka. I fully confirm your view that in the Mathura Lion Capital Inscription, there is no trace of Nahapãna and of Jainas. The inscription definitely refers to Buddha Sakyamuni and even mentions the Sarvāstivāda and Mahāsāmghika Sects of Buddhism. Is it possible that the author whom you have in mind is thinking of the numerous other Mathura inscriptions, which are Jaina, published by Dr. Buhler in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. I. But even in these there is no mention of Nahapana.
As to the relation between Nahapana, and Bhumaka, Professor Rapsod declares in his Catalogue of Indian Coins: Andhras etc., (p. Cviii) that Bhūmaka preceded Nahapana, but that the relation between them is unknown. Many scho. lars hold that Bhumaka was identical with Ysamotika, the father of Chashtana (see Professor Konow, Kharoshthi Inscriptions, p. 1xx). Nahapana would thus have been contem. porary with Chashtana: for a different view you might consult the article by the late Rakhaldas Banerji in the 'Journal of the R. Asiatic Society,' 1917, pp, 273........
I am interested to know that you are studying Asoka. There is no important new publication concerning him. The last work of fundamental importance is Prof. Hultzsch's edition of the Edicts ( Corpvas Inscriptionum Indicarvm, Vol. I Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
