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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