The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.213

v1.c12.213

The account of Kalhaṇa that after Trilocanapāla left the field the Caṇḍālas (Turks?) "overspread the land like locusts" is also supported by Muslim historians. Niẓām ud-Dīn tells us that after dislodging the *Sāhi*, Maḥmūd entered the valley of Kashmir, and "carried away much booty in the shape of prisoners of war, and gold, and after converting many infidels to Islam, and laying the foundations to Islam, went back to Ghaznīn."¹ Kalhaṇa tells us that even after this defeat Trilocanapāla did not cease to make heroic efforts to recover his kingdom and that "*the Hammīra* did not breathe freely, thinking of the superhuman powers of the illustrious Trilocanapāla."² We are told that in his subsequent contests with the Turuṣkas the *Sāhi* king mainly relied on his force of elephants, but Kalhaṇa makes it clear that his efforts bore little fruit. He plainly regards the defeat, described above as the final stroke that brought about the downfall of the once mighty dynasty.³ According to al-Bīrūnī, Trilocanapāla was killed in A.H. 412 (A.D. 1021) no doubt in one of these struggles against the Yamīnīs.⁴