The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s4.107

v2.c32.s4.107

(1) *Ajmer stone-inscription* (i).—Found in the mosque known as *Aḍhai dinkā Jhonpṝā*, on the lower slope of the Taragadh hill at Ajmer, Rajputana. It consists of 75 lines of writing. It contains a large portion of the 1st act, the beginning of the 2nd act, the end of the 3rd act and a large portion of the 4th act of *Lalita-Vigraharāja*, a drama (*nāṭaka*) composed by the *Mahākavi* Somadeva in honour of king Vigraharāja of Sākambharī. The preserved portion of the drama deals with the king's love for Desaladevi, the daughter of prince Vasantapāla,¹ who appears to have lived near or at the town of Indrapura (?). The end of the 3rd act contains a conversation between the king and Śaśiprabhā, a confidante of Desaladevī. Reference is then made to the king's impending 'march against the king of the Turuṣkas.' Two Turuṣka prisoners appear in the 4th act, and spies of the two hostile kings enter their enemies' camps to ascertain their strength and position. The Turuṣka spy announces that the Cāhamāna army 'consists of a thousand elephants, a hundred thousand horses, and a million men,' while the Cāhamāna spy states that 'the Hammīra's army consists of countless elephants, chariots, horses and men.' We are also told that the camp of the Hammīra, which was a Yojana distant from 'Vavveraa,'² the place where Vigraharāja was then encamped, was 'well guarded.' The Cāhamāna king consults Rāja Siṁhabala, his maternal uncle, and the *Mantri* Śrīdhara as to the course of conduct on the impending struggle. The preserved portion ends with the arrival of a *dūta* from the Hammīra. The record was written and engraved by the learned Bhāskara.³