Quick Reference
| Work | Gauḍavaho (गउडवहो) |
| Author | Vākpatirāja (वाक्पतिराज) |
| Based on | Historical events |
| Structure | 1209 gāthās, divided into kulakas |
| Language | Mahārāṣṭrī Prākṛta |
| Time Period | 8th century CE |
| Theme | Saga of the slaying of the king of Gauḍa |
Ga:uḍavaho by Vākpatirāja
Ga:uḍavaho (=Gauḍavadha) is an epic Prakrit poetry authored by Vākpatirāja who flourished in first half of 8th century C. E. and enjoyed patronage of king Yaśovarman of Kanauj. Consisting of 1209 gāthā-s and divided into kulakas, this work contains the slaying of the contemporary king of Gauḍa region. The poem starts with a lengthy invocation and praise to the poets lasting 98 gāthā-s. Elaborate description of the courage and power as well as the war has been skilfully woven in this work along with usage of alaṅkāra-s. Stray Saṃskṛta verses of Vākpati are around in almost all ancient subhāṣita anthologies and a poem - Mahumahavijaya is attributed to him which have, unfortunately, not survived till today. This first came to notice by Buhler at the Jaisalmer manuscripts' repository in 1880. Śaṅkara Pāṇḍuraṅga Paṇḍita published this for first time along with commentary by Haripāla in the Bombay Sanskrit Series No. 34. A revised edition was published by Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in 1927.