Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c29.113

c29.113

The Haihayas prospered in their region of South Malwa, and one of their kings Sāhañja is said to have founded a city called Sāhañjanī,² and his son Mahiṣmant also the town Māhiṣmatī ³ mentioned above. Their successor Bhadraśreṇya ⁴ carried his arms eastward, conquered the kingdom of Kāśī, took possession of Benares and reigned there, which means that he traversed the prostrate Paurava kingdom. The Kāśī king Divodāsa I recovered his territory and capital from Bhadraśreṇya’s sons, sparing one young son Durdama, but abandoned it afterwards ⁵ and built a new capital on the R. Gomatī at the eastern border of his land. The Rākṣasa Kṣemaka then took possession of Benares, and Durdama reconquered the kingdom. This occupation by Rākṣasas suggests that the country had been so devastated by war that rude tribes from the forests around occupied it; and in consonance with this it is said a conflict took place between Anaraṇya king of Ayodhyā, who reigned about this time, and a Rāvaṇa,⁶ who would be a king from the Dekhan.⁷ The Haihayas held the Kāśī territory and seem to have been mainly engaged in raiding N. India.