Identifying Texts Referencing Thanesar

The question asks us to identify which of the given texts contain a reference to the ancient city of Thanesar (also known as Sthanisvara or Sthanvisvara). Thanesar was a significant political center, especially during the reign of King Harshavardhana in the 7th century CE.

Analyzing Each Text for Thanesar References

Let's examine each text mentioned:

• Harshcharit: This is a biography of King Harshavardhana written by his court poet Banabhatta. Banabhatta was intimately associated with Harsha and his kingdom. Thanesar was the capital of Harsha's ancestral kingdom before he unified large parts of northern India and eventually moved his capital to Kannauj. Given that Harshcharit details Harsha's life and early rule, it provides a detailed account of Thanesar, its importance, and events related to it. Therefore, Harshcharit definitely contains references to Thanesar.
• Travelogue of Yuvan chang (Xuanzang): Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim who visited India during the reign of Harshavardhana (7th century CE). He traveled extensively throughout India, including visiting Harsha's empire. His travelogue, the "Great Tang Records on the Western Regions" (Si-yu-ki), describes the places he visited, their people, culture, and religion. Xuanzang visited Thanesar, which he referred to as Sthanisvara (T'u-lu-p'o-na). He provides observations about the city and its surrounding region. Thus, Xuanzang's travelogue is a crucial source for the history and geography of Thanesar during that period.
• Kadambari: This is another work by Banabhatta, a Sanskrit prose romance. While primarily a work of literature, Kadambari also contains geographical and cultural references relevant to Banabhatta's time and region. Historical and literary analyses confirm that Kadambari also includes references to Sthanisvara (Thanesar). As the author was from the region and associated with the ruler of Thanesar, it is natural for the city to appear in his writings, even in a fictional context.
• Karpur Manjari: This is a Prakrit play written by Rajasekhara, a renowned Sanskrit poet and dramatist who lived in the late 9th and early 10th centuries CE. Rajasekhara was associated with the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty, whose centers were primarily in regions different from Thanesar. Karpur Manjari is a court play focused on romance and does not typically serve as a historical or geographical record of places like Thanesar from the 7th century. References to Thanesar are not found in Karpur Manjari in the same significant way as in the other three texts.

Conclusion on Thanesar References

Based on the analysis of each text, references to Thanesar are found in:

• Harshcharit
• Travelogue of Yuvan chang (Xuanzang)
• Kadambari

Karpur Manjari does not contain notable references to Thanesar in this context.

Therefore, the texts in which the reference of Thanesar is found are Harshcharit, the Travelogue of Yuvan chang, and Kadambari.