The Rashtrakutas and their Times c9.s1.8

c9.s1.8

Soon after his accession Govinda abandoned himself to a life of pleasure and vice(7). This must have made his administration unpopular and inefficient. Karhad plates of Kṛṣṇa III(8) state that Govinda practically entrusted the whole administration to Dhruva, as his mind was engrossed with the enjoyment of pleasures. This must have given Dhruva a golden opportunity to usurp the throne for himself. He proceeded cautiously; we find him sometimes issuing grants under his own authority, sometimes we notice him recognising Govinda as the de jure sovereign, but nevertheless issuing the land grant on his sole responsibility(9). It seems that Govinda soon realised what his brother was aiming at; he immediately removed him from the administration and entrusted it to some stranger. Feudatories, realising the internal dissensions, became lukewarm in their loyalty. This supplied Dhruva with a sufficient excuse to revolt openly against his brother; declaring that there was the danger of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa family itself being ousted from the throne, he proceeded to fight with his brother, not so much to gain the throne for himself, as to retain it for the Rāṣṭrakūṭas (10). He first tried to induce Govinda to abdicate, which he naturally refused to do. Govinda tried his best to put down the rising of his brother; he sought and obtained help from the rulers of Kanchi, Gangawadi, Vengi, (11) and Malva. Dhruva, however, succeeded in defeating the confederacy and winning the throne for himself. This event probably took place in c. 780 A.D. (12)