The Rashtrakutas and their Times c9.s2.23

c9.s2.23

Dhruva's expedition in northern India was merely of the nature of a digvijaya. It probably brought him no substantial gain, apart from fame and booty, that might have been obtained. Boundaries of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa empire did not alter as a result of his successes against Vatsarāja and Dharmapāla. It does not seem that he was in a position to follow up his victories in the Doab by marching upon the capital of either of his opponents. He was far away from his base; and perhaps he was too old to press his armies on to Kanauj. It is also possible that he was anticipating some trouble about the succession after his death, and was, therefore, anxious to return to the south in order to abdicate in favour of his favourite son Govinda. Whatever the real causes, the Rāṣṭrakūṭa armies soon retired to the south, enhancing no doubt the military prestige of the empire, but adding very little to its area.