The Rashtrakutas and their Times c9.s2.1

c9.s2.1

After the overthrow of his elder brother above described, Dhruva ascended the throne. From the Dhulia plates of Govinda II, we find that Dhruva was still professing himself to be a subordinate of his elder brother in 779 A.D. In what year precisely he overthrew his brother and ascended the throne is not definitely known at present. From Jinasena's *Harivans'a*, we learn that in 783 A.D. king Śrīvallabha, son of Kṛṣṇa, was ruling the south. This statement, however, does not enable us to determine the date of the accession of Dhruva, for the description 'Śrīvallabha, son of Kṛṣṇa,' can suit Govinda II as well as Dhruva. It is true that the Paithan plates of Govinda III issued soon after his accession, mention Srīvallabha as an epithet of Govinda II and Kalivallabha as that of Dhruva. But Srāvanbelgola Inscription No. 24, which is an almost contemporary document, describes the father of Stambha, *i. e.* Dhruva, as Srīvallabha.¹³ Another contemporary record from Matakeri in Mysore district¹⁴ refers to Dhārāvarsha Srīvallabha as the overlord of Kambarasa, proving thereby that Dhruva was known both by the epithets of Srīvallabha and Kalivallabha. Since Srīvallabha was thus the epithet of both Govinda II and his immediate successor Dhruva, Srīvallabha mentioned by Jinasena as ruling in 783 A.D. can be either Govinda or Dhruva. But since the latest known date of Govinda II is 779 A.D. which is supplied by the Dhulia plates discussed above, it may be reasonably assumed that Srīvallabha, who is mentioned by Jinasena as ruling over the south in 783 A.D. may have been Dhruva rather than Govinda II. For, if we place the usurpation subsequent even to 783 A.D., say in 784 or 785 A.D., Dhruva will have a short reign of about 8 years. His extensive conquests in the south and north, which will be soon described, will make it abundantly clear that they presupposed a somewhat longer reign.