Indian Epigraphy c16.s4.86

c16.s4.86

It may be pointed out that the text of the Puranic section is not free from errors. Some of the names are redudant and many of them doubtful. There is however epigraphic support in favour of some of the traditional number of grāmas quoted in the list. Thus the Śākambhara or Śākambharī country is actually known to have been otherwise called Sapādalakṣa or ‘one lakh and a quarter’.¹ Such traditional numbers of villages in particular countries are also referred to in some other works. Thus Vinayacandra’s *Kāvyaśikṣā* mentions : (1) Surāṣṭra—9 thousands; (2) Lāṭadeśa—21 thousands; (3) Gurjaradeśa—70 thousands; (4) Pārata—70 thousands; (5) Ḍāhala—9 lakhs; (6) Mālava—9 lakhs and 92; (7) Kānyakubja—16 lakhs, etc.² There is apparently considerable exaggeration in the cases speaking of very big numbers. But we have no doubt that the reference is to villages which may have been in many cases very small or even nominal. Whether the inflation of the number of villages in a particular country or kingdom was due to a special method of calculation cannot be determined without further evidence on the subject.