A Note on the Later Somavaṁśīs
By Dineshchandra Sircar
Summary
A Note on the Later Somavaṁśīs by D.C. Sircar forms part of the Miscellany section. It addresses genealogical ambiguities concerning the Later Somavaṁśī rulers of Orissa. Sircar critiques translations of the Narsingpur and Balijhari copper‑plate grants that list kings such as Dharmaratha, Nahuṣa, Janamejaya and Yayāti. Some scholars had interpreted these names as evidence of two parallel Somavaṁśī branches, with an elder brother of Nahuṣa ruling at Kaṭaka (Cuttack). Sircar argues that this reading is mistaken; the genealogy is continuous and does not imply a separate branch. He analyses Sanskrit verses and clarifies that phrases thought to indicate an elder brother actually describe Nahuṣa himself. The article includes a genealogical table showing the succession from Yayāti to Dharmaratha, Nahuṣa, Janamejaya and his descendants. Sircar emphasises that proper punctuation and understanding of honorifics are essential in interpreting copper‑plate inscriptions. By correcting the lineage, he shortens the chronology and removes unnecessary hypothetical rulers. The note thus exemplifies how careful philological examination can rectify historical misunderstandings and contributes to a more accurate history of the Somavaṁśīs.
Conclusion
Sircar’s note clarifies that there was no separate elder branch of the Later Somavaṁśīs; misinterpretations of inscriptional phrases led to genealogical confusion. His philological analysis streamlines the dynasty’s succession and highlights the importance of precise reading of epigraphic records.