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Left: a 19th century map of the world from India
(as illustration only)

 

 

Uddyotana Suri: Kuvalayamala:

(Bleu Water-lillies) (d 778) India

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Taken from: Kuvalayamala: Praqkrtabhashanibandha campusvarupa mahakatha by

Uddyotana Suri

 

 

 

In the city of Surparaka (1) during a meeting of merchants:

Another said: I went with pearls to the eastern country (probably Assam (2)) and brought fly-whisks.

Another said: I went to Dvaravati (3) and brought conchshells from there.

Another said: I went to the coast of Barabaricum (4) taking fabrics with me and brought superior pearls and ivory (of African origin).

Another said: I went to Suvarna-dvipa (Sumatra) taking flowers of the Palasa (5) tree. …..

(1) Surparaka: modern Nala Sopara in the  Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

(2) Assam: is a state in northeastern India.

(3) Dvaravati: in Thailand.

(4) Barabaricum: on the mouth of the Indus, the furthest eastern settlement of Greeks.

(5) Palasa tree or Palash tree; because of its red flowers described as the forest fire tree. Grows in India and South-East Asia. (Butea monosperma)