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Bhaskaravarma of Dandi and Bana : An Appraisal
"Ayantyaśmakah" supported accordingly by Rhys Davids." Asmaka was probably cantiguous to Avanti (Modern Malava). Honce Vasantabhanu king of Asmaka was a king of an area contiguous to Avanti. Dandi has also referred to Vidarbha as the kingdom of the Bhoja King Puậyavarma having a son Anantavarma followed by Bhaskara Varma. Kalidasa refers to Agniditra as the King of Vidiša and refers to Yajñasena as the king of Vid. arbha. Vidiśā (Malava) was not far away from Vidarbha. Aśmaka being contiguous to Avanti was also not far away from Vidardha. Daņdi has also mentioned Avantideva as the king of Kuntala. Bhadu Varmà as that of Vanavasí, Vfrasena that of Murala, Bkavira that of Roika, Ktmáragupta as that of Konkaņa and Nagapala as the prince of Nasilya, Pracandavarma of Utkala, Simba Varma of Anga and Mitravarma of Mahismati.
Baņa’get allusion to śarabha, the overlord of Açmaka having his head chopped off by the spies of tho onemy guised as students of muste, Abmaka lord having ponchant for lute' refers to Sarabha as the king of Asmaka prior to the first half of the Sovonth Century. Whether this Sat. abha was a variant name of of Vasantabhanu changed by Dandi as such or Sarabha was a predecessor of Vasanta Bhanu we shall have to oxataino on the basis of comparative logic. Thore is a reference to one Sarabha
rája in the Erån stone pillar inscription of the time of Bhanugupta (Sara: bha raja daubitrah Svavamśatilako' dhuna Śri Bhānu gupto)". This Sara
bearaja may be the king Sarabha of Aßmaka alias Vasantabhānu reffered to by Dandi. These facts shall have to be proved on the basis of ovidencos external as well as internal or refuted as such. This comparative examination resulting in some tangible conclusions shall help os establish ultimately the comparative chronology of Dandi and Bapa as writers of prose romance. Our examination shall revolve round the comparative status of Vidarbha, Asmaka, Mabişnati, Utkala, Adga and other Geographical units bearing impact on contemporary history. Bāņa's allusion to Sarabha as the Asmaka lord duped to decapitation by some spies of the onemies guised as students of Music deservas examination in the light of the description of Dandi in the Viśrutacarita
Vasantabhāou the king of Asmaka managed to kill Annatavarma by dint of his superior diplomacy. Višruta on hearing the whole account from Nalijangha that Bhaskaravarma the minor son of Anatavarma had been rescued by strategy and brought to the Vindhya forest and that his father (i.. Busruta's) and that of the mother of Bhasbaravarma (i. e. Basundh. ara's) maternal grandfather was the sams, avowed to extirpate the king
Sombodhi X 14
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