THE OLD AND NEW CAPITALS. 
143 
1899.] 
Keeping in view the details of the ancient topography of S'rinagar, 
we can still follow np step by step the localities by which.the legend 
here related leads King Pravarasena to the site of his new city. We 
have already seen that the Mahasarit is the stream now known as 
Tsunth Knl which flows from the Dal into the Vitasta. Near its con- 
fluence with the Vitasta which we have also found already mentioned 
as a Tirtha, there existed, until the times of Maharaja Ranbir Singh, 
a much frequented Hindu burning Ghat. It was undoubtedly of ancient 
date. Kalhana relates how the body of King Uccala, murdered 
in his palace at S'rinagar, was hurriedly cremated at the burning 
place situated on the island at the confluence of the Mahasarit and 
Vitasta,. 1 It is certain that the island of May^sum (Skr. Maksika- 
svamin) is meant here, at the western end of which the Mahasarit or 
Tsunth Kul falls into the Vitasta. 
■ " ■ ■ • • 
The stream flowing from the Dal is bounded on its northern bank 
by an old embankment which stretches from the west foot of the 
Takht-i Sulaiman close to the high bank of the Vitasta near the Second 
Bridge. This embankment which is the most substantial at or around 
STinagar and known only by the general designation of Suth (from 
Skr. setu ), ‘dyke,’ is undoubtedly of very early date. It protects the 
whole of the low-lying portions of the city on the right river-bank as 
well as the floating gardens and shores of the Dal which would other¬ 
wise be exposed to annual inundations from the Vitasta. A tradition 
still heard by Mr. Vigne ascribed the construction of this embankment 
to King Pravarasena. 2 * It is indeed evident that its construction was a 
necessary condition for the safety of the newly founded city. 
Several topographical indications warrant the conclusion that it 
was this old dyke in w r hich the popular legend recorded by Kalhana 
recognized the leg and knee of the demon. A glance at the map shows 
that the eastern portion of the ‘ Suth ’ turns sharply at a right angle 
and thus curiously resembles a bent knee. Ksurikdbala was the name 
of the place where Pravarasena according to the legend was supposed 
to have reached firm ground after crossing the stream. I have shown 
that this name in the form of its Kasmiri derivative Kliud a bal still 
attaches to the city quarter which lies at the western end of the Suth. 8 
Finally it will be seen from the map that Kalhana’s words regard¬ 
ing the ‘ Setu ’ dividing the waters of the Mahasarit, describe exactly 
the present embankment which has on one side the Tsunth Kul and 
on the other side the various marshes and canals fed by the Mar. It 
1 See viii. 339. 
2 See Vigne, Travels , ii. p. 69. 
s See note iii. 339-349. 
