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attractive pillars of gold variegated with varied hued texture and had its bejewelled mosaic pliant with floral offerings' etc.
Meghavāhana issuing out of the Brāhmaṇa Sabhā mandapa (dvijāva saramandapa) is greeted by the tumultuous din of the bards (Vandināṁ) pronouncing his victory proclamation etc., (Jayaśabda kala kalena) and while issuing out of his royal house he is followed by the attendant folk supervised by confidants holding weapons etc. who moved behind him appearing glamorous with the group of pedestrians holding variety of swords with way being directed by the porters wielding gold batons raised aloft and running ahead, with chowrie being waved by the betel box bearing man. His arrival in the 'āsthāna mandapa' or the Assembly chamber is marked by the pompous platitude of a different type. It had somewhere prominent ministers seated on lofty ratton seats (chairs) being served by other attendants detailed on duty according to their rights or status and some-where the atmosphere was being rendered crimson with the suffusions of vermilion meant to stamp the royal mandates being inscribed in countless number. It had its centre being occupied by the great army chiefs being helped by many attendants with their heads refulgent with the diadems (Mukuta) inlaid with gems and emitting out rays etc. It had the ingress as well as egress of the princes difficult of effect. Hence the association of bards, counsellors, army chiefs wearing diadems (mukuta) also formed a part and parcel of the regal insignia enhancing the prestige of the king.
"मध्याह्नकृत्याय प्रवर्तितो मागधश्लोकैरधिकृतैश्च राजलोकै:"5
refers to Māgadhas reciting eulogiums, māgadha being a synonym for vandin and cāraṇa etc. meaning bards.
He has also referred to the Kañcukis, Kirātas, Kubjas, Kallas, mūkas and vāmanas (The chamberlains, the persons hailing from the sylvan tribes got into the royal service known as Kirātas, the hunchbacks, the deaf, the dumb and the dwarfs) accompanied by the venial coquettes of the harem in countless numbers marching on to the protector of the earth (bhūmipāla) in order to collect the basins brimming with gifts anticipating the birth of the son. It implies that these members of the entourage formed a part of the royal insignia in so far as the movement of these always anticipated the
1. TM Vol. II p. 174. 2. TM Vol. II pp. 162-163. 3. TM Vol. II p. 163. 4. TM Vol. II pp. 172-73. 5. TM Vol. II p. 168. 6. TM Vol. II pp. 182-83.
