प्रियदर्शिका नाटिका (सम्राट हर्षवर्धन - चतुरङ्क शास्त्रीय नाटिका सान्वय सटीक)

XIII
Buddhistic scriptures, stayed in Harsha's dominions for 8 years
(635-643). In his account of his travels this Chinese
Buddhistic monk has graphically described the life and
work of Harsha and the religious, social and political condition
of India at the time. Harsha fell under the spell of Hieun
Tsang, in whose honour he held a grand assembly at Kanauj,
the capital. The object of holding this assembly was to
proclaim the doctrines of Mahayan Buddhism, as expounded
by Hieun Tsang, called the Master of the Law. At the
conclusion of this assembly Hieun Tsang was invited to
another great assembly held at Prayag at the confluence of
the Ganga and Yamuna. This was the sixth of the quin-
quennial assemblies in which Harsha gave away his accumu-
lated treasure to all the holy men of the various Indian
religions, Buddhist, Brahmanical, and Jain and to the poor
and the destitute. It was Harsha's custom to give away
freely his accumulated wealth every five years. This assembly
held in 643 was the last, since Harsha did not live to hold
another such celebration.
Harsha was not only a great warrior, an able administrator
and organizer but also an accomplished scholar and man
of letters. He wrote three plays, Priyadarsika, Ratnavali and
Naganand and a few minor poems. He was a most liberal patron
of learned men and authors. Prominent among those who
received patronage from Harsha and flourished at his court
were the poets Bana and Mayura. Bana, in his historical
romance 'Harsha-charita' has given an account of the early
life and deeds of his patron. Harsha was also a master of
calligraphy, as is evidenced from his signature inscribed on
the well-known Banskhera plate.
Harsha chose the town of Kanauj for his capital and
turned it into a magnificent city, adorned with lofty buildings,
tanks and gardens.
This great monarch died in A. D. 648, worn out with the
toils of constant warfare and the cares of governing a vast
empire, before he had reached his sixtieth year. Harsha was
the last great Hindu king of Northern India. He left no heir
behind him and his empire broke up after his death.