Acknowledgement

Acknowledgements are due to a great many people who have helped me throughout the tenure of my research work; to all of them I express my indebtedness. research. I shall always remain grateful to Professor H. D. Sankalia for opening up a new and exciting feild of It was at his behest that the work on the Mahabharata was taken up and but for his clear insight of the subject and his encouraging guidance, I would have found the work beyond my limited capabilities. Indeed, words are inadequate to express wy deep sense of gratitude to him. and My grateful thanks are due to Dr. M.S. Mate, Dr. M.K. Dhavalikar, Dr. (Mrs.) Shobhana Gokhale Dr. G.L. Badam, from the Department of Archaeology, Deccan time College, who have readily and gladly given of their and knowledge whenever I have approached them for help. Dr. I am equally thankful to Sri M.D. Kajale, P.K. Thomas and Dr. A.R. Marathe, and Dr. A.R. Marathe, my colleagues and friends from the Department, who have not only been generous to lend me their own publications but have also helped me in locating other sources relating to their special field of study.

I would also like to take this oportunity to record my affectionate gratitude to a close friend, Shereen Ratnagar from the Jawaharlal Nehru Dr. University, Delhi, for her invaluable help in books and matters relating to West Asian and Persian history and archaeology and for all those stimulating discussions on subjects pertaining to my thesis. of the A word of sincere thanks is due to all members library staff of the Deccan College for their kind help and in particular to Mrs. S. Patyal whose ever smiling co-operation shall always remain a sweet memory. in I owe a heavy debt of gratitude to Dr.G.K.Bhat, Director, BORI, Pune, which is difficult to express words. His paternal guidance has helped me throughout my academic career from as early as 1965 till this very moment, seeing me through the last difficult days of thesis by arranging for its typing and binding. the I have been extremely lucky to have my typing work entrusted to Shri V. G. Deshpande of the BORI, Pune, to whose meticulous handling of the job the thesis ows its final form. Finally I am grateful to the University Grants Commission for financial assistance throughout the period of research. 26-4-1978 Gouri Rad 545 POORA S LIBRARY