Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c6.5.3

c6.5.3

The new readings introduced by later copyists of the original draft or its modifications appear to have been, in some cases, offered by way of inprovement or correction, and it is sometimes difficult to determine the reading of the original draft. The fact, however, that even the late *Vmn* often leaves the mistakes of the other copies as they are probably points to the absence of any determined and persistent effort on the part of the copyists to deviate from the texts before them. It should be remembered that numerous mistakes had already crept into the *Vy* text as early as c. 1030 A.D. when Al-Būrūnī consulted a *Vy* Ms. The geographical section of the *Grd* exhibits considerable freedom, though it seems to have utilised the *Mk* section known as the *Kūrma-vibhāga*. The date of the *Grd* section seems to be close to that of the *Vmn*, as both add to the old description of the Kumārīdvīpa as पूर्वे किराता यस्यान्ते पश्चिमे यवनास्तथा, a new line placing the Turuṣkas in the north and the Andhras in the south. As these Turuṣkas and Andhras appear to be no other than the Turkish Musalmans and the Kākatīyas respectively, the *Vmn* and *Grd* sections on geography could not possibly have been compiled much earlier than the 13th cenutry. The *Sv* also contains the same reference.