The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s14.148

c8.s14.148

As regards the termination of the reign, the epigraphic records simply say that, after Sômêśvara II. had enjoyed the sovereignty for a time, he became intoxicated with pride, and neglected the sufferings of his subjects, whereupon Vikramâditya, being virtuously minded, punished or confined him, and became king;³ and that, by the strength of his own arm, Vikramâditya seized in battle the sovereignty of Sômêśvara while it was still of no long duration, and made himself emperor.⁴ And, for details, we have to turn to the Vikramâṅkadêva-charita. Bilhaṇa tells us⁵ that, for a time, the two brothers lived in friendly fashion at Kalyâṇa; the younger duly honouring the elder as the chief of his house and his king. Sômêśvara, however, fell into evil courses, and even tried to do harm to his brother. Thereupon Vikramâditya left Kalyâṇa, taking with him all his followers; and also his younger brother, Jayasiṁha III., who, he considered, could not be safely left near the king. Sômêśvara sent forces in pursuit, to bring the brothers back. But he was unsuccessful, and at last desisted from the attempt. Vikramâditya went on to the Tuṅgabhadrâ, on the banks of which river he rested his army for some time, with the intention of fighting the Chôḷa king. It appears, however, that for some unexplained reason, he deferred this project, in favour of making a triumphal progress through the southern and western parts of the kingdom; for, the narrative goes on to say that, having spent some time in the Baṇavâsi province, he marched through the Malaya country,—that Jayakêśin, the lord of the Koṅkaṇ, i.e. the first Jayakêśin in the family of the Kâdambas of Goa, came to him, and brought presents,—and that the lord of Âḷupa made submission, and received favours in return. It also implies that he visited Kêrala, and inflicted some reverse on the king of that country. He then seems to have taken some definite action against the Chôḷas. But it was stopped by the Chôḷa king, Râjakêsarivarman, otherwise called Vîra-Râjêndradêva I.,⁶ making overtures of friendship,