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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
footmen, servants have I none. So, Rudrāditya sitting in heaven, invites me eagerly to join him.”1
When Mrņālavati offered alms to Muñja he says, "Mļņālavati, if wisdom after the event is the same as before it, no one would be overcome by calamity.”2 Mşņālavati replies, "When luck turned, even the tenheaded king (Rāvana), the master of seas and the lord of the forts of Lankā, was destroyed. Therefore, Muñja, do not grieve."
Vākpati Muñja was not a mere ruler and gay lover. Several Samskst, Prākst, and Apabhramśa verses ascribed to him are preserved in the Prabandha-cintamani and in the Purātana Prabandha-sangraha. Some of these verses are regarded as belonging to the old forms of modern Hindi." He also liberally patronised men of letters. He honoured them with various titles. The Tilakamasjarī informs us that its author Dhanapāla was conferred a title 'Sarasvatī' by the king 'Sri Muñja' in his court." The Prabhāvakacarita refers to Dhanapāla as the adopted son of Muñja (Sri Muñjas ya pratipannasutaḥ). Dhanapāla who was the author of the Paiyalacchi, and the T'ilaramañjari, Amitagati, the author of the Subhāṣita-ratna-sandoha and various works, Padmagupta, the author of the Nava Sāhasāńka-carita, Dhananjaya, the author of Dasarüpaka, his brother Dhanika, the author of Dasarüpāvaloka, Haläyudha, the commentator on Pingala's work on metrics, were among the jewels that adorned the court of Vākpati Muñja. Moreover, Ujjaini attracted the best scholars of the country and from that time onward, it became the centre of learning. When Muñja was to be executed, he was asked to call in mind his favourite god. He mournfully recited a verse:
"Lakşmi will return to Govinda, Viraśrī to the house of the heroes; but now that Muñja is no more the storehouse of Fame, Goddess of learning will be without support."
1 SJGM, I, p. 23: 174 13 TE TU OCT 14 9777461f firea
सग्गट्टिय करि मन्तणउं मुहुँता रुद्दाइच्च ॥ 2 SJGM, I, p. 24: TTFF TC ataq5 ETTEI
भग्ग खई सो भजि गउ मुञ्ज म करसि विसाउ॥ 3 Ibid., p. 23, V. 34: Hat Theys +45575 AT Afa fent als
मुंज भणइ मुणालवइ विधन वेढ़ई कोई॥ 4 D. K. Jain, Apabhramśa-prakāśa, p. 202. 6 V. 53: See supra p. 88. & PC., p. 25: Jantufera a attitaitaa
गते मुजे यशः पुञ्ज निरालम्बा सरस्वती।
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