Studies in Indian Art c11.s3.12

c11.s3.12

In October 1938 I had written to late Dr. V. S. Sukthankar to enquire the meaning of the expression śiṃśumāra śiraḥ occurring in Ādiparvan, 185.16 (Vulgate text). In reply he wrote to me: "I am not sure about the meaning of Śiṃśumāra Śiraḥ, in Ādi. 185.16, Our old group of Northern Mss. has 'puram' while Southern Mss. read 'girim'. We have accepted 'puram' for our critical text, and take that it was some place—a suburb—near Drupada's capital, where a special camp was erected for the Svayaṃvara". Subsequently, I published my interpretation of the word in the Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art for 1939, suggesting that śiṃśumāra śiraḥ could best be explained as an architectural term implying the architrave of a Toraṇa carved with an alligator's head. The meaning has come to me by looking at the old gateways of the Sanchi Stūpa in which the toraṇa beams are finished off in volutes at both ends decorated with alligator's head and coiled fish tail. This meaning suits the context admirably. In response to king Drupada's proclamation of the Svayaṃvara, many Kings, Rishis, sages and Brāhmaṇas flocked to his capital from different places to participate in and witness the ceremony. Those kings were well received by Drupada with respect due to their rank (Ādi, 176.14). Then we have—