Essay name: Vasantavilasa of Balachandra Suri (translation and study)
Author:
R. T. Bhat
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
This is a study and English Translation of the Vasantavilasa鈥攁n historical epic poem written by Balachandra Suri that explores the life and achievements of Vastupala, a minister of the Chaulukya dynasty in 13th century Gujarat. The thesis is organized into three parts, covering the historical context of the Caulukya dynasty, Vastupala's accomplishments, and a literary analysis of Vasantavilasa's 14 cantos.
Chapter 3 - Historical account of Vastupala and his achievements
9 (of 55)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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87
Even if we look to the accounts given in the contemporary literary
works, which may be safely relied upon, the monuments and public works like
temples, rest-houses, tanks, wells. etc. erected and sunk by the ministers were
ous.40 Even if we consider only the contemporary evidence,
very numerous
.
keeping aside the later Prabandhas, there is no doubt that their munificence
and philanthropy extended to a large number of places in the whole of Gujarat,
Saura峁ａ弓ra and Marvad. Rajasekhara Suri asserts that their public works
extended to 艣ri Saila in the South, Prabhasa in the West, Kedara in the North
and Benaras in the East.41 This does not seem improbable when we consider
the fact that the scholars, poets and religious men from almost the whole of
India were coming in those days to A峁嘺hilav膩岣峚 and Dhavalakka, and were
getting some patronage from Vastupala and his brother. Public works of
Vastupala were not limited only to the Jaina religion which he professed. We
are told that he also built hospitals, Brahmasalas, Mathas, Siva-temples and
even mosques. 42 There might be some exaggeration in the later accounts,
because places on which Vastupala spent wealth in public works are about
fifty in a contemporary source like the Suk峁泃asamkirthana. That number we
find greatly increased in the works of Rajasekhara, Jinahar艣a and Jinaprabha;
and some of the details seem ridiculous, because they are evidently
exaggerations. But even if we look to plain facts given by contemporary
authors, there is no doubt that Vastupala was one of the greatest
philanthropists that Gujarat and perhaps India had ever produced.
