Page:The Malavikagnimitra, Tawney (2nd edition, 1891).djvu/23

 about his successors, except their names and the length of their reigns, which are as follows:—


 * Vasumitra reigned 8 or 10 years.
 * Snjyestha "  7 years.
 * Ardraka   "  2 „
 * Pulindaka "  3 „
 * Goshavasu "  3 „
 * Vajramitra " 9 „
 * Bhagavata " 32 „
 * Devabhiiti " 10 „

"These ten kings reigned from 178 B.C. to 66 B.C., and in every case the son ascended the throne of his father.

"The next dynasty bears the name of Kanva, and was founded by Vasudeva, the Minister of the last Cunga king, who murdered his dissolute master and ascended his throne."

Such is the history of the Cunga dynasty, or rather all that one of the most able of Indian archaeologists, familiar with every nook and corner of Sanskrit literature, can present to us as a substitute for history. No doubt the view of the relations subsisting between Agnimitra and Pushpamitra which we find in the play is unhistorical. But that does not impair the value of the drama as a picture of Indian manners at a time when Buddhism and Brahmanism were both favoured religious, contending for dominion over the whole of India.

It only remains for me to say that I have endeavoured to give translations of all the most important various