The Nāgara-Kertāgama Colophons

Abstract

Since the 14th century Wināda-Prapañca’s poem was copied many times. It is impossible to determine which number the text of codex 5023 Leyden University Library would have in the sequence of copies. As in the moist tropical climate manuscripts written on palm-leaves do not last very much longer than 75 years, unless exceptionally well cared for, perhaps the text of codex 5023 is about the 7th or 8th descendant of the author’s copy. The custom of copying scribes (who used to act in a manner as editors) of adding a colophon to their own copy was not followed by all, or several colophons were superseded by later ones. Certainly the two Nāg. colophons of codex 5023 are not by the same author. The first colophon’s survival is a consequence of its mentioning the name Nāgara-Kĕrtāgama by which the poem has been called ever since.