उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

UTTARARĀMACHARITA. 3 According to the Rājataraṅgiṇī, Bhavabhūti was patro- nized by Yaśovarmā, 10a king of Kānyakubja (Kanoj). This Yaśovarmā was vanquished by a king of Kaśmīr named Lalitāditya. Lalitāditya reigned according to General Cunningham from 663 A. D. to 700. 11 Pandit comes to the conclusion that the correct date of the accession of Lalitāditya is 690 A. D. 12 and that one of his earliest achi- evements was the defeat of Yaśovarmā. The Rājataraṅgiṇī mentions another poet Vākpatirāja, who lived at the court of Yaśovarmā. This poet was the chief court poet of Yaśovarmā and wrote a prākrit poem called Gauḍavaho which deals with the exploits of Yaśovarmā and his victory over a Gauḍa king. In this poem Vākpatirāja says that certain excellences derived from the ocean of Bhavabhūti still shine in his works. 13 Pandit therefore comes to the conclusion that Vākpati had been in youth either a pupil or a personal admirer of Bhavabhūti. 14 Dr Bhandarkar points out in the recent edition of his Mālatīmādhava that Chinese chronology throws a doubt on the correctness of these dates and that a correction of 31 years is required in these dates. 15 Prof Jacobi confirms Chinese chronology by finding out the exact date (14th Aug. 733 A. D) on which an annular eclipse of the sun described by Vākpati in his Gauḍavaho took place. 16 Dr Bhandarkar therefore holds that Bhavabhūti flourished in the first quarter of the 8th century. There are ample materials to corroborate the result thus arrived at as to the date of Bhavabhūti. We shall set forth some of them. 10a 'कविवाक्पतिराजश्रीभवभूत्यादिसेवितः । जितो ययौ यशोवर्मा तद्गुणस्तुति- वन्दिताम् ॥' IV 144 (Stein) 11 Vide Dr Bhandarkar s preface to the Malatimadhava XIV (edition of 1905) 12 Introduction to Gaudavaho p. 60 13 'भवभूइ जलहि-निग्गय-कव्वारिमयरसकणा इव स्फुरन्ति । जस्स विसेसा अज्जवि वियडेसु कहाणिवेसेसु ॥' Pandit's Gaudavaho verse 799 (भवभूतिजलधि- निर्गतकाव्यामृतरसकणा इव स्फुरन्ति । यस्य विशेषा अद्यापि विकटेषु कथानिवेशेषु ॥) 14 Introduction to Gaudavaho p 66 15 Introduction to Malatimadhava XIV 16 Introduction to Malatimadhava XIV