2023-02-26 04:07:22 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
xi
The Pallava king Nandivarman Pallavamalla is praised in his
inscription¹ as Karnīsuta in his knowledge of arts. The author
of Jayamangalā, a commentary on the Kamasutra of
Vätsyāyana, when dealing with the Mlecchita-vikalpa²
(systems of cipher-writing) cites by way of illustration two
systems, one founded by Kauṭalya and the other by Müladeva.
This fact that Kauṭalya and Müladeva were authors of systems
of cipher-writing is quite in keeping with the tradition that
ascribes to them mastery of all sciences and arts. This
system of ciper-writing, it may be mentioned in passing, is
called Mülabhadriya in Kerala and the Malayalis of old
generations are found to make use of it on occasions of
secrecy In the body. of the Avantisundarī, Müladeva
alias Karnīsuta figures as a teacher of burglary, abduction,
illicit love etc. In the Mattavilāsa-prahasana of Mahendra
Vikrama, Kharapata is said to be the author of Cora
śāstra³ (the science of theft) and Kauṭalya in his
Arthasastra says that the implements of torture should be
learnt from Kharapata.4 Bāṇa in his Kadambari5 makes
mention of the story of Karnīsuta, and the Jain Upādhyāya
Siddhacandra commenting on the word quotes a passage
identifying Karnīsuta with Kharapata. The lexicon Tri-
kandasesa of Puruşottama gives Karnīsuta, Kharapata,
Müladeva and Kalänkura as synonyms. It is highly doubtful
if one and the same person could be a romantic adventurer, a
teacher and master of kalas possessing all good qualities, an
author of a treatise on theft and daring opponent of an
usurper of the imperial throne; and the correctness of identifi-
cation with Müladeva alias Karṇīsuta with Kharapata may be
held in abeyance until fresh hight is thrown on
it by
further researches.
1. S.I.I. Vol. II, p. 346 ff.
ग्लेच्छित विकल्पा
2.
इति — यत्
साधुशब्दोपनिबद्धमप्यक्षरव्यत्यासाद्
अस्पष्टार्थ तन्ग्लेच्छितं गूढवस्तु मन्त्रार्थम् । तस्य विकल्पा बहवः पूर्वाचार्योक्ताः । तद्
यथा कौटिलीयम् – दादे: क्षान्तस्य कादेश्च स्वरयोरुभयोरपि ।
बिन्दूष्मणोर्विपर्यासाद् दुर्बोधमिति संज्ञितम् ॥
अकौ खगौ घडौ चैव चटौ ञणौ तपौ नमौ ।
यशौ रषौ लसौ चेति मूलदेवीयमुच्यते ॥
3.
नमः खरपटायेति वक्तव्यं येन चोरशास्त्रं प्रणीतम् । ( TSS. 55, p. 15).
4.
तस्योपकरणं प्रमाणं प्रहरणं प्रधारणमवधारणञ्च खरपट्टादागमयेत् ।
(TSS. Edn. No. 80, p. 156.)
5. N. S. Edn., p. 19.
xi
The Pallava king Nandivarman Pallavamalla is praised in his
inscription¹ as Karnīsuta in his knowledge of arts. The author
of Jayamangalā, a commentary on the Kamasutra of
Vätsyāyana, when dealing with the Mlecchita-vikalpa²
(systems of cipher-writing) cites by way of illustration two
systems, one founded by Kauṭalya and the other by Müladeva.
This fact that Kauṭalya and Müladeva were authors of systems
of cipher-writing is quite in keeping with the tradition that
ascribes to them mastery of all sciences and arts. This
system of ciper-writing, it may be mentioned in passing, is
called Mülabhadriya in Kerala and the Malayalis of old
generations are found to make use of it on occasions of
secrecy In the body. of the Avantisundarī, Müladeva
alias Karnīsuta figures as a teacher of burglary, abduction,
illicit love etc. In the Mattavilāsa-prahasana of Mahendra
Vikrama, Kharapata is said to be the author of Cora
śāstra³ (the science of theft) and Kauṭalya in his
Arthasastra says that the implements of torture should be
learnt from Kharapata.4 Bāṇa in his Kadambari5 makes
mention of the story of Karnīsuta, and the Jain Upādhyāya
Siddhacandra commenting on the word quotes a passage
identifying Karnīsuta with Kharapata. The lexicon Tri-
kandasesa of Puruşottama gives Karnīsuta, Kharapata,
Müladeva and Kalänkura as synonyms. It is highly doubtful
if one and the same person could be a romantic adventurer, a
teacher and master of kalas possessing all good qualities, an
author of a treatise on theft and daring opponent of an
usurper of the imperial throne; and the correctness of identifi-
cation with Müladeva alias Karṇīsuta with Kharapata may be
held in abeyance until fresh hight is thrown on
it by
further researches.
1. S.I.I. Vol. II, p. 346 ff.
ग्लेच्छित विकल्पा
2.
इति — यत्
साधुशब्दोपनिबद्धमप्यक्षरव्यत्यासाद्
अस्पष्टार्थ तन्ग्लेच्छितं गूढवस्तु मन्त्रार्थम् । तस्य विकल्पा बहवः पूर्वाचार्योक्ताः । तद्
यथा कौटिलीयम् – दादे: क्षान्तस्य कादेश्च स्वरयोरुभयोरपि ।
बिन्दूष्मणोर्विपर्यासाद् दुर्बोधमिति संज्ञितम् ॥
अकौ खगौ घडौ चैव चटौ ञणौ तपौ नमौ ।
यशौ रषौ लसौ चेति मूलदेवीयमुच्यते ॥
3.
नमः खरपटायेति वक्तव्यं येन चोरशास्त्रं प्रणीतम् । ( TSS. 55, p. 15).
4.
तस्योपकरणं प्रमाणं प्रहरणं प्रधारणमवधारणञ्च खरपट्टादागमयेत् ।
(TSS. Edn. No. 80, p. 156.)
5. N. S. Edn., p. 19.