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INTRODUCTION
103
of the NS edition of the Setubandha state that he was the chlef of a place named Voli in the former Jaipur State. He says that he composed his commentary in Samvat 1652 (1595 A.D.) in the fortieth year of the reign of Jallaladındra (Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar), to whom he expresses his devotion in eloquent terms. He reports that Akbar protected the cow, and abolished the pilgrim tax and what appears to be a tax on commercial transactions.' He tells us further that the emperor listened to the recitation of the Purāņas, and adored the Suo and practised Yoga; but probably exaggerates when he says that Akbar drank no other water than that of the Gangā. More interesting is his statement that he composed the Rāmasetupradipa 'at the command of king Jallaladīndra' to facili. tate the expounding of the poem in a learned assembly (parişadi), probably patronized by the emperor. Akbar's great interest in Sanskrit literature is well-known; and works like the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa were translated into Persian at his command. Rāmadasa's statement shows that he encouraged also the study of Prakrit literature.
Apart from his literary activity, Rāmadāsa appears to have played at least on one occasion an important part in contemporary politics. During Akbar's fatal illness in October, 1605 he supported Salīm against the intrigues of Azīz and Mān Singh; and his action in posting an adequate guard of faithful Rajputs over the treasury was a decisive step in the interests of Prince Salīm. 2
The Rāmasetupradīpa is a useful but somewhat verbose commentary; and in the point of lucidity and insight Rāma.
dasa cannot rank with commentators like Krşnavipra and i t : qa xcute #A177 Hearforritut:' 3 Smith, Akbar, p. 322. Oxford, 1926,
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