History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c5.6.3

c5.6.3

Superficial paleographical resemblances cannot be held to upset the more certain evidence of institutional continuity to which the Prakrit charters unmistakably point. Since the Pallavas issued their charters in Prakrit and of a style like that of the earlier Sātavāhana charters, does it not seem reasonable to argue that the early Pallavas of the Prakrit charters were officers of the Sātavāhanas, or at least officially connected with them and dependent upon their authority? It seems therefore reasonable to argue that the Sātavāhana governors of the south-eastern frontier gradually extended their territory, civilizing it as they conquered it, introducing the arts of agriculture and ultimately made themselves masters of the locality and extending southwards when the Tamil powers weakened to take into their territory Kanchi and Toṇḍamaṇḍalam. It was the conquest of this that gave them the standing to make themselves real rulers and whatever of title was wanting in it was made good ultimately by a marriage which brought along with it a further addition to the territory. This becomes clear both from the account that Mr. Gopalan has given of succeeding events as well as from the analysis of these inscriptions which he has provided in the appendix. The Pallavas of the Prakrit charters call themselves rulers of Kanchi. So do the Pallavas of the Sanskrit charters.