Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t19.17

v2.c10.s2.t19.17

Harṣacarita has eight chapters in total, and before the main content, there are 21 prologues mainly praising Lord Shiva and the literary works of writers before his time. The first chapter on Vastyayana Family starts from a legend about his ancestor and Sarasvatī and tells the stories of his family. The second chapter, *First Visit to Sīladitya* presents a vivid description about how he received Kṛṣṇa's letter and met Sīladitya. The third chapter, *Ancestors of Sīladitya* sets Puṣpabhūti as main character telling the story that Puṣpabhūti who bravely fought against basilisk and the predictions of the Heavenly Goddess. The fourth chapter, *The Birth of King* describes the birth of Rājyavarddhana, Harṣavardhana and Rājyaśrī. The first part centres around the birth of Harṣavardhana, while the following part gives detailed description for the wedding of Rājyaśrī. In the fifth chapter, Death of Emperor Prabhākaravarddhana, Emperor Prabhākaravarddhana was seriously ill and how Empress Yaśomatī burns herself to death. The sixth chapter, *Harṣavardhana's Pledge* includes the stories of Emperor Grahavarman's death and Rājyavarddhana's disappearance. The seventh chapter *Receiving the Gift of Baldachin* writes about how Harṣavardhana inherited throne and conquered the whole world. The eighth chapter has no title and can be viewed as the end of the book telling the stories that Harṣavardhana saved Rājyaśrīand returned to military camp.