Review - Prthvirajavijaya of Jayanaka
Summary
This review analyses the newly edited Prthvirajavijaya, attributed to Jayanaka, along with Jonaraja’s commentary. Edited by Gaurishankar H. Ojha and Pandit Chandredhar Sharma Guleri, the edition is based on a single manuscript discovered by Bühler in Kashmir. The poem, a mahākāvya, glorifies the Chahamana king Prthviraja III and mixes historical narrative with legendary elements. The reviewer summarises previous discussions by Morrison and Belvalkar and notes that the editors have restored the text and provided an exhaustive index and visayanukramani (verse register). He praises the editors for attempting to emend difficult passages but criticises them for not appending an introduction or supplying historical commentary. The review points out that the poem abruptly breaks in Canto XII, leaving later sections on Prthviraja’s battle with Muhammad bin Sam lost. Despite these shortcomings, the reviewer considers the edition a valuable contribution to Rajput history and Sanskrit literature.
AI-assisted summary, not yet checked. Consult the original PDF before citing.
Conclusion
Although the editors of the Prthvirajavijaya could have provided a fuller introduction and historical analysis, their new edition restores an important Rajput epic and offers scholars a cleaner text with useful indices. The review sees it as a welcome addition to Chauhan historiography.