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the Avantisundari, are proof enough of the fact that
it is not likely that both are the productions of one
and the same author. We also notice slight discrepancies
between the Purvapithika and the Uttarabhaga of the
Dasakumaracarita, thereby indicating the possibility of
their authors being different from each other.
In a
manuscript of Dasakumaracarita (No. 412 of the University
collections in this Library) we get the colophon
' इत्यवन्तिसुन्दर्या दशकुमारचरिते प्रथमं चरितम् '• All these show that
the Uttarabhaga of the Dasakamaracarita forms a part
of the Avantisundari and the Purvapithika is a later
addition.
 
The work is written in a majestic style and it is
interesting throughout. But in the story certain mira-
culous and improbable incidents have been freely intro-
duced. The narration of the details of the life of
Damodara by a Gandharva, the communication to
Potapa of the message of Kubera by a Yaksa disguised
as a Brahmin, the antecedents of Potapa and Candra-
gupta etc., are 'instances. So also is the fact that
Padmodbhava, the son of Potapa who is a contemporary
of Candragupta, becomes the minister of Ripunjaya,
who comes after about one hundred and fifty kings since
the reign of Candragupta. It is also incredible that after
2000 years of penance Ripunjaya got back his lost
kingdom. It may also be noted that while according to
the Avantisundarī Ripunjaya re-established the kingdom
after nearly 2000 years, according to Visnupurana,
Riponjaya was killed by his minister Manika and his own
son Pradyota was placed on the throne.