Page 62

58 I am, howby Dr. Hall, "downright plagiarism of one respectable author from another is unknown." Dr. Buhler subscribes to the force of Dr. Hall's argument. (Indian Antiquary, Vol. III. p. 219.) I ever, compelled, in the interest of truth, to deny the accuracy of the major. No one, who has carefully studied medieval Sanskrit literature, can maintain that plagiarism was unknown in India. Nothing was, or is, more common, and, from the nature of the subjects treated of by the later authors, it could not well be otherwise. Even ancient authors were not altogether above this failing, and one half of the Sutras of Masaka appears to be word for word the same with the work of Latyayana. The number of verses taken from the Mahabharata by later authors without acknowledgement is immense. Contents. I. Description of the family of Vatsayana, in which the author was born. II. The author's interview with Sriharsha. III. His retirement from the kingdom of Sriharsha. IV. The birth of Sriharsha alias Rajyavardhana in the family of Pushpabhuti. V. Death of Pushpabhuti. VI. Resolution of Sriharsha to destroy the king of Malava. VII. The conquest of Pragjyotisha from the son of its king. VIII. The invasion of the Vindhya Hill by Sriharsha in his progress towards Malava. Beginning. icchadisaktinicayapracayakramena visvavabhasanavidhau prathitaprabhava | ya dhyayinam hrdayakokanadapratistharupam prakasayati naumi sarakhatim tam || 1 || namastungasirakhumbicandracamaracarave | trailokyanagararambhamulastambhaya sambhave || 2 || || harakanthagrahanandamilitacim namamyumam | kalakuta visasparsa jatam cchagamamiva || 2 || namah sarvvavide tasmai vyasaya kavivedhase | cakre srstim sarakhatya yo varsamiva bharatam || 4 || prayah kukavayo loke ragadhisthitadrstayah | kokila duva jayante vacalah kamakarinah || 5 || santi svana ivasankhya jatibhajo grhe grhe | utpadaka na bahavah kavayah sarabha iva || 6 || cyanyavarnaparastattya bandhacikraniguhanaih | anakhyatah satam madhye kavisvaro vibhavyate || 7 ||