Like the Rajatarangini, the political history of old Kashmir, the Nilamatapurana, the cultural history of ancient Kashmir, the Lokaprakasa completes the triology of Kashmir’s past. It deals with ancient governance and financial structure of old Kashmir. This work based on the best manuscript on the subject was translate with commentary in Sanskrit by eminent Kashmiri scholar Pandit Sahajabhatta. At Aurel Stein’s initiative it was sent to Paris for publication under the auspices of the Asiatic Society. However, due to the eruption of the first World War its publication was interrupted midway. Hence its final fate needs to be determined. Printed edition of the Lokaprakasa based on this rare manuscript can bring credit to Kashmir scholarship and redefine its historical past.

“Permit me to trouble you today with two requests concerning certain Kashmir Sanskrit texts in which French scholar friends will eventually have to be referred to the Kashmir Durbar, but I hope their consideration will be greatly facilitated by asking first your kind support of them.

"Monsieur Sylvain Levi, Professor of Sanskrit in the Paris University, one of the most eminent Indologists living and much respected old friend of mine has recently addressed to me the question as to whether it would be possible for him to be presented with a copy of Kashmir Sanskrit Series published for a number of years past under the auspices of the Kashmir Durbar by Research Department, maintained, I believe, from Dharmartha Fund. The series comprises mainly Kashmir Sanskrit texts relating to Saiva philosophy and cognate subjects. Professor Sylvain Levi can not find a copy of the Series at any public libraries at Paris but would have often occasions to make use of them in connection with his researches into history of Indian religious thought, mysticism etc. As you are aware the financial conditions in France are not such at present as to permit public libraries or private scholars to incur comparatively heavy expenditure on the purchase of a whole series of texts to which reference may be needed only in particular cases. I believe that the Kashmir Durbar would only honour itself if it were prepared to place one copy of the Kashmir Sanskrit Series publication at the disposal of Professor Sylvain Levi or else present it to the Societe Asiatique at Paris, the oldest Oriental Society in Europe.

“My second request concerns the hoped for edition of an important and yet unpublished Sanskrit text ,the Lokaprakasa ascribed to Kshemendra which is one of the most interesting records available for the study of administrative and economic conditions in old Kashmir. Composed originally in the 11 th century A. D. in the form of Kosa or a glossary, it became by constant later additions and adaptations a kind of hand-book for Kashmiri officials both in Hindu and earlier Mohammedan times. It thus presents a veritable storehouse of interesting information as to the old administrative practices, customs, folk-lore etc of Kashmir.

“During the years which I devoted to the big task and kindered research into the ancient history of Kashmir , I succeeded in acquiring what is the oldest extant manuscript of the Lokaprakasa. I recognised the importance of having its contents elucidated by a competent Kashmiri scholar familiar with the traditional lore of his country as a preliminary condition for a satisfactory edition.

“Being anxious also to provide suitable work for an old friend and highly valued scholar assistant of mine the late Pandit Sahajbhatta of Srinagar. I employed him at my private expenses some years before his death on preparing a full Sanskrit commentary of the Lokaprakasa. The work was completed during my absence on my second Central Asian expedition (1906-1908). After my return from it being fully satisfied with the through scholarly way in which the Pandit had executed his task, I induced the Societe Asiatique at Paris to purchase from the Pandit a carefully prepared copy of the text as constituted by him as well as of his commentary.

“The honorarium paid to him by the Societe Asiatique was much needed help to that excellent scholar whose merits unfortunately were never been appreciated as they deserved to be by those interested with the promotion of Sanskrit learning in Kashmir. The Societe Asiatique, aware of the high value of the Pandit’s work, entrusted the publication of both the text and his commentary to Monsieur Jules Bloch, a very distinguished pupil of Professor Sylvain Levi and now one of the Assistant Directors of Ecole des Hautes Etudes in the University of Paris . The printing of both the text and the commentary had started before beginning of the war but came unfortunately to stand-still after only a few sheets had passed through the press. The difficulties created by the war, when Monsieur Bloch was on military service and subsequently the grinding financial straits caused by the depreciation of the Franc sufficiently account for this.