Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c18.23

c18.23

Dhruva Nirupama was succeeded by his son Govinda III The Râdhanpur and Vaṇi-Ḍiṇḍorî grants were issued by him in the Śaka year 730 corresponding to A D 808²² while he was at Mayûrakhaṇḍî This place has been identified with a hill-fort in the Nâsik territory of the name of Morkhaṇḍ Whether Mayûrakhaṇḍî was the capital of the dynasty in the time of this king cannot be satisfactorily determined Govinda III was certainly one of the greatest of the Râshṭrakûṭa princes, and the statement in his grant that during his time the Râshṭrakûṭas became invincible, as the Yâdavas of Purâṇic history did when under the guidance of Krishṇa, appears credible Seeing he had grown up to be a brave prince his father proposed to abdicate the throne in his favour, but he declined, expressing himself perfectly satisfied with his position as Yuvarâja or prince-regent ²³ When after his father’s death he ascended the throne, twelve kings united their forces and rose against him, desirous of striking an effectual blow at the power of the Râshṭrakûṭas But alone and unassisted, he by his personal valour suddenly inflicted a crushing defeat on them and broke the confederacy He released the Ganga prince of Chera, who had been kept in custody by his father, but no sooner did he go back to his native country than he put himself into an attitude of hostility But Govinda III immediately vanquished him, and threw him into captivity again Subsequently he marched against the Gûrjara king, who fled away at his approach Thence he proceeded to Mâlvâ, the king of which country knowing himself to be unable to resist his power surrendered to him After receiving his obeisance he directed his march to the Vindhyas When Mârâśarva, the ruler of the adjoining country, who had been watching his movements, heard from his spies that Govinda's army had encamped on the slopes of that mountain, he went up to him, and throwing himself at his feet presented to him his most highly valued heirlooms which no other prince had ever got before On this occasion Govinda spent the rainy season at a place called Śrîbhavana, which has not been identified When the rains were over, he marched with his army to the Tungabhadrâ, where he stayed for a short time, and brought the Pallava king of Kâñchî under a more complete subjection than before Thence he sent a message to the king of Vengî, or the country between the lower Kṛishṇâ and the Godâvarî, who probably belonged to the eastern Châlukya dynasty, and he came and attended on him as if he were his servant ²⁴ This grand victorious march to the north and the south must have taken place before Śaka 726 or A D