Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c12.s6.16

c12.s6.16

¹ For a traditional account of the conflict between Udāyin and the king of Avanti, see IHQ, 1929, 399. In the opinion of Dr Jayaswal one of the famous “Patna Statues” which at the time of the controversy, stood in the Bhārhut Gallery of the Indian Museum (Ind. Ant., 1919, pp. 29ff.), is a portrait of Udāyin. According to him the statue bears the following words: *Bhage ACHO chhonidhīśe*. He identifies ACHO with king Aja mentioned in the *Bhāgavata* list of Saiśunāga kings, and with Udāyin of the *Matsya*, *Vāyu* and *Brahmāṇḍa* lists. Dr. Jayaswal’s reading and interpretation of the inscription have not, however, been accepted by several scholars including Dr. Barnett, Mr. Chanda and Dr. R. C. Majumdar. Dr. Smith, however, while unwilling to dogmatize, was of opinion that the statue was pre-Maurya. In the third edition of his *Aśoka* he considers Dr. Jayaswal’s theory as probable. The characters of the short inscription on the statue are so difficult to read that it is well-nigh impossible to come to a final decision. For the present the problem must be regarded as not yet definitely solved. Cunningham described the statue as that of a Yaksha. According to him the figure bore the words “Yakhe Achusanigika. Mr. Chanda’s reading is: *Bha (?) ga Achachha nivika* (the owner of inexhaustible capital. *i.e.*, Vaiśravaṇa). See *Indian Antiquary*, March, 1919. Dr. Majumdar reads: Gate (Yakhe?) Lechchhai (vi) 40. 4 (Ind. Ant., 1919).