[INDOLOGY] The term praśasti

[Buchta, David]

Dear colleagues,



I am hoping for some guidance, likely from epigraphy specialists on this
list.



We commonly understand a primary meaning of the term *praśasti *to refer to
royal panegyric, especially as occurring in inscriptions. I am trying to
understand the history of this usage of the term. MWW lists “(metrical)
eulogistic inscription” under the entry for *praśasti*, but then only cites
MacDonell’s dictionary. I am aware of the use of the term as a label for
such royal praise poems in Vidyākara’s Subhāṣitaratnakoṣa.



I am wondering, however, if anyone can point me to clear attestations of
the use of *praśasti* as a term specifically identifying poems in praise of
a king, inscriptional or otherwise, prior to Vidyākara. Does the term, for
instance, occur within such poems themselves, or in colophons? Is it found
as a label in inscriptions that contain such royal praise poems?



I should note that Prof Pollock kindly shared with me his article,
“Praśasti and its Congeners: A Small Note on a Big Topic,” though it does
not address the specific question I am asking here.



Thanks for any leads you might have.



Best,

Dave
--
David Buchta, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Sanskrit
Department of Classics
Brown University
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