The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s4.343

v2.c30.s4.343

The claim to literary merit advanced by his grants is supported by his commentary on the *Amaru-śataka*. In this work he quotes a verse by the preceptor (*upādhyāya*) Madana, alias Bālasarasvatī. Hultzsch rightly identified this Madana with the author of the *Pārijāta-mañjarī* and the three royal grants mentioned above. The quotations in the *Rasika-saṁjīvinī* show that Madana produced other poetical works, and he may have materially helped his disciple in the compilation of his commentary.⁴ Another luminary in Arjunavarman’s court was Bilhaṇa, who is described as *Mahāpaṇḍita* in the royal grants He served the Mālava prince as his *Sāndhivigrahika*, and is referred to as *Mahākavi* in Jain tradition.⁵ The third scholar was the Jain Āśādhara, whose father Salakhaṇa (Sallakṣaṇa) is probably to be identified with the person of that name who appears with the title *rājā* as the *Mahāsāndhivigrahika* of Arjunavarman in one of his Bhopal grants (V.S. 1272).⁶ The Jain tradition records that Madana was a pupil of Āśādhara.⁷