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प्राकृतसर्वस्वम् ।
the case )*, we have sufficient reason to take him as a Brahmin even though he does not give any clue to his caste in his work as it is written at the end of each Pāda or Chapter : "iti Sri-Mārkandeya-K'avindrakrtau Prākrtasarvasve” etc. The word Kavindra was most probably a title of the author conferred on him by his patron king Mukundadeva whom he eulogises at the end of the work. Gajapati Kings of Orissa are proverbially famous for conferring titles on worthy scholars and honouring them with land and such other precious gifts. So the word Kavīndra as a title of the author possibly conferred on him by his patron king gives us some clue to the poetic genius and extraordinary literary eminence
* I made an enquiry in this village as to whether any memory. of Mārkandega is still alive amongst the villagers and gathered some relevant facts which are noted down here. The village Vīrapratāpapura is one of the sixteen main Śāsanas dedicated to orthodox Brahmins by the Gajapati king Pratāparudradeva and named after him. This was originally established with 128 Brahmanical shares, thus forming an exception to the other Śāsanas which were mainly established with 120 shares. The village consists mainly of Miśra Brahmins belonging to the Kautsa Gotra. The Satapathy and Nanda Brahmins are also living in the village. Śri Svāpesvara Miśra, the uncle of the present Vice-Chancellor of Utkal University, Dr. Sadāśiva Misra, posesses a plot of land said to be the spot where Mārkandeya's own home was situated. Now it is an orchard containing cocoanut and plantain trees. Sri Lokanātha Misra, an old Brahmin of 65 of this village informed me that during his younger days about more than 50 years ago quest for the Ms. of Prāk,tasarvasva was carried on by the late Pandit Sadāsiva Miśra who discovered a palmleaf manuccript of the same from the former's house. This Ms. must be that which is noted to have been borrowed by GRIERSON from Pandit Sadāsiva Misra. Unfortunately my enquiry for finding out the trace of Vālāsavatı Sattaka the notable lost work of Mārkandeya proved of no avail.
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