गुप्त अभिलेख संग्रह (जे. एफ. फ्लीट - गुप्त सम्राटों एवं परवर्ती नरेशों के ऐतिहासिक पाषाण व ताम्रलेख)

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; INTRODUCTION. 73
not to seek far for the explanation of this discrepancy. When once the Gupta-Valabhî era
had been fairly introduced in Gujarât, the natural tendency, as I have said, would soon be
to disregard the original scheme of its years, and to substitute for it the scheme of the
southern Vikrama years. Let us assume that this substitution took place in Gupta-Vala-
bhî-Saṁvat¹ 303, which commenced, approximately, on the 19th March, A.D. 622, about
half-way through southern Vikrama-Saṁvat 679 current. Then, if the change of scheme
was effected in the first seven lunations of the Gupta-Valabhî year, the Gujarâtis
would make the new year, Gupta-Valabhî-Saṁvat 304, commence with their own new year,
southern Vikrama-Saṁvat 680, on the next Kârttika śukla 1, or approximately the 12th
October, A.D. 622; and Gupta-Valabhî-Saṁvat 303, as thus adapted and shortened by
them, would contain only seven lunations, from Chaitra śukla 1 up to Âśvina krishṇa 15.
If, on the other hand, the change was effected in the last five lunations of the Gupta-
Valabhî year, when southern Vikrama-Saṁvat 680 current had already commenced, then
the Gujarâtis would defer the commencement of the new year, Gupta-Valabhî-Saṁvat 304,
until the commencement of their own new year, southern Vikrama-Saṁvat 681, on again
the next Kârttika śukla 1, or approximately the 1st October, A.D. 623; and Gupta-Valabhî-
Saṁvat 303, as thus adapted and prolonged, would contain nineteen lunations. The years
of the era would, for the future, always commence, in Gujarât, with the years of the south-
ern Vikrama era, on the first day of the bright fortnight of Kârttika. Under the second
condition, every subsequent year in Gujarât would commence seven lunations later than
it would in Kâṭhiâwâḍ, as long as the true original reckoning was preserved in the latter
country; which was the case up to at least Gupta-Valabhî-Saṁvat 945. Under the first
condition, every subsequent year in Gujarât would commence five lunations earlier than in
Kâṭhiâwâḍ. And the grant of Dharasêna IV., now under notice, shews that this latter
was the manner in which the change of scheme, which had already been accomplished,
was effected; since this is the only method by which the intercalary Mârgaśîrsha of this
record can be made to belong to Gupta-Saṁvat 330, instead of to 329.
The Verâwal inscription, however, of the Chaulukya king Arjunadêva, dated Valabhî-
Saṁvat 945, which I have mentioned at page 31 f. above, and the surroundings and
full bearings of which will be explained in detail further on, contains sueh particulars,
in the record of its date, as shew that, in it at all events, there is no reference to the
scheme of the southern Vikrama year, or even of the southern Śaka year.
But, apart from any particular instances which supply proof by means of the cir-
cumstances under which the recorded week-days are found to be correct, there is, as I
have said, the general fact that we cannot have either a southern year coupled with
¹ I do not mean to assert that the change took place in this particular year; or even within a few
years on either side of it. All that is certain, is, that it took place before Gupta-Valabhî-Saṁvat 330.
And I have used the year 303, instead of 300 in round numbers, for purposes of illustration, only in
order to avoid a year with an intercalary month.