required number, while the Uttarapithika completes the story of Viśruta, left unfinished in the last ucchväsa of Dandin's text, and finally concludes the narrative." These pithikās are definitely known to be the work of different hands. There are at least three versions of the Prelude (1) the current Pürvapithikā, beginning with the verse brahmandacchatradanda etc., in five ucchväsas, (2) the Purva- vrttantadarsana, ascribed to Bhattanarayana in the colophon by the scribe, in three ucchväsas, and (3) a prelude in verse in three chapters by Vinayaka. Similarly, the Conclusion exists at least in four forms: (1) the current Uttarapithikā, not divided into ucchvāsas, (2) Daśakumāracaritašeşa in four ucchväsas, known to be the work of comparatively modern writer named Cakrapāņi Diksita, (3) a ninth ucchväsa by Padmanabha and (4) a continuation by Gopinatha Kaviraja.³ The fact that numerous efforts to supply an introduction and a conclusion are known to have been made suggests that the current Purvapithika and Uttarapithika were not accorded general acceptance as Dandin's work, while the various attempts stand no claim whatsoever. It is also important to note that these versions do not agree with each other in language and style and in extent and contents. While the current Purva- pithikā is in greater detail and better style, Bhaṭṭanārāyaṇa's Pūrvavṛttāntadarśana is sketchy and is quite an inferior production. The details of incidents also vary considerably in the two versions. As regards the Uttarapithika, the current 1. Cp. below, pt. III; also Keith, loc. cit.; De: HSL p. 210 2. Cp. (1) Kale ed.; NSP ed. etc. (2) given in the App. of Agashe's ed. pp. 147-55; this Bhattanarayana is different from the famous author of Venisaṁhara: cp. Agashe, op. cit. p. xxiv. (3) noticed by Eggeling, Ind. Off. Cat., vii, No. 40671/586 a, p. 1553 3. Cp. (1) Kale ed.; NSP ed. etc., (2) cp. Eggeling, Ind. Off. Cat., vii, No. 4069/2934, p. 1553; cp. NSP first ed., (3) published from Madras, noticed by R. V. Krishnamacharya; cp. Agashe, op. cit., p. xxiv. (4) cp. Eggeling, op. cit., vii, No. 4070/1850, p. 1554. This Gopinatha is mentioned by Aufrecht as the author of DKK (1677 A. D.); cp. Agashe, op. cit., pp. xxiv-xxv 4. In PVD, we have Matiśarman for Sitavarman. Dharmapala is stated to have two sons, Kämapäla and Sumitra, while Padmodbhava, three,
