The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.37

v1.c12.37

But where are the *Śāhis*, who, as we have seen had founded an independent power south of the Hindukush in about the year 430 A.D.? Did they gradually disappear in the clash and turmoil of the invasions of the armies of the Sasanids, the Epthalites, and the Turks? It has been presumed by scholars that the kingdom of Kia-pi-shi described above is the rump of the once mighty Kuṣān empire.³ This presumption is of course not invalidated by the description of the king as a *Kṣatriya*. By this the pilgrim probably meant nothing more than that the king belonged to the Brahmanical faith.⁴ But even if he was right in his description of the caste of the prince it presents no insuperable difficulties. The history of the gradual assimilation of the Yueh-chi hordes in the fold of Hinduism is well-known. Early in their history the Śiva appears on the coin-legends of Kadphises¹ and the progress of the movement is illustrated by the acceptance of the Indian name Vāsudeva by one of the successors of Kaniṣka. There is no reason to believe that this process of assimilation did not continue amongst the successors of the Great Kuṣāns; and it is quite likely that some of their chiefs even claimed Kṣatriya rank.² This assumption that the kingdom of Kia-pi-shi belonged to the Little Yueh-chi rulers seems to be supported by the *Kitāb ul-Hind* of al-Bīrūnī. He gives us the following account of the kings of Kābul :