उत्तररामचरितम् (महाकवि भवभूति - संस्कृत मूल एवं हिन्दी व्याख्या)

UTTARARĀMACHARITA. 3
According to the Rājataraṅgiṇī, Bhavabhūti was patro-
nized by Yaśovarmā, 10a king of Kānyakubja (Kanoj). This
Yaśovarmā was vanquished by a king of Kaśmīr named
Lalitāditya. Lalitāditya reigned according to General
Cunningham from 663 A. D. to 700. 11 Pandit comes to
the conclusion that the correct date of the accession of
Lalitāditya is 690 A. D. 12 and that one of his earliest achi-
evements was the defeat of Yaśovarmā. The Rājataraṅgiṇī
mentions another poet Vākpatirāja, who lived at the court of
Yaśovarmā. This poet was the chief court poet of Yaśovarmā
and wrote a prākrit poem called Gauḍavaho which deals with
the exploits of Yaśovarmā and his victory over a Gauḍa king.
In this poem Vākpatirāja says that certain excellences derived
from the ocean of Bhavabhūti still shine in his works. 13 Pandit
therefore comes to the conclusion that Vākpati had been in
youth either a pupil or a personal admirer of Bhavabhūti. 14
Dr Bhandarkar points out in the recent edition of his
Mālatīmādhava that Chinese chronology throws a doubt on
the correctness of these dates and that a correction of 31 years
is required in these dates. 15 Prof Jacobi confirms Chinese
chronology by finding out the exact date (14th Aug. 733 A. D)
on which an annular eclipse of the sun described by Vākpati
in his Gauḍavaho took place. 16 Dr Bhandarkar therefore
holds that Bhavabhūti flourished in the first quarter of the
8th century.
There are ample materials to corroborate the result
thus arrived at as to the date of Bhavabhūti. We shall set
forth some of them.
10a 'कविवाक्पतिराजश्रीभवभूत्यादिसेवितः । जितो ययौ यशोवर्मा तद्गुणस्तुति-
वन्दिताम् ॥' IV 144 (Stein)
11 Vide Dr Bhandarkar s preface to the Malatimadhava
XIV (edition of 1905)
12 Introduction to Gaudavaho p. 60
13 'भवभूइ जलहि-निग्गय-कव्वारिमयरसकणा इव स्फुरन्ति । जस्स विसेसा अज्जवि
वियडेसु कहाणिवेसेसु ॥' Pandit's Gaudavaho verse 799 (भवभूतिजलधि-
निर्गतकाव्यामृतरसकणा इव स्फुरन्ति । यस्य विशेषा अद्यापि विकटेषु कथानिवेशेषु ॥)
14 Introduction to Gaudavaho p 66
15 Introduction to Malatimadhava XIV
16 Introduction to Malatimadhava XIV