On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v2.c21.s13.2

v2.c21.s13.2

This passage presents some serious difficulties. The name of the country here transcribed Tê-na-ka-che-ka has been restored as Dhanakacheka and Dhanakaṭaka. In Tibetan books the term Bras-spuns or "Rice-heap" is given as the rendering of the latter word, but this translation, as has been suggested, seems to point to a form like Dānyakaṭaka.¹ A note added to the pilgrim's text tells us that another name for the country was "Great Andhra." and it is possible that the name Dhanakaṭaka was confined to the district of the capital. Cunningham, who in his usual manner alters the Chinese text to suit his own fancies, writes the name "Donakotta" and otherwise, and fixes the position of the capital "at Dhāranikoṭṭa or Amarvāti, on the Kistna."² Fergusson is of opinion that the united testimony of Mr. Boswell's report and certain photographs "prove, almost beyond the shadow of a doubt, Bezwarra (the Bezwada and Bejwāḍa of others) to be the city Hiouen-Thsang describes".³ This identification has been accepted by Mr. Sewell after a careful examination of the district and the texts on the subject.⁴ According to Mr. Burgess the capital of the country at the time of our pilgrim was Bejwāḍa, but he also writes—"The town of Dharaṇikoṭa is the ancient Dhanyakaṭaka or Dhānya-kaṭaka, the capital of Mahā-Andhra, and lies about eighteen miles in a direct line to the westward from Bejwāḍa, on the south or right bank of the Kṛishṇa river, above the bed of which it is well raised."⁵ But the situation and surroundings of Dhāraṇikoṭṭa are against this identification, while the Bejwāḍa site has much in its favour.