The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.190

v1.c13.190

The results of the steady degeneration of the king's character and administration was nowhere better illustrated than in the foreign relations of Kashmir. Poisoned by treacherous ministers, the king had exiled his only able and trusted general, the *Dvārapati*, Kandarpa, the conqueror of Rājapurī. On a second occasion, when the king personally undertook an expedition against this hill state, his want of firmness and treachery of the prefect of police Sunna led to his ignominious retreat. As the poet puts it, "from that time onwards the glory of the king vanished, and his epithet of *Pratāpacakravartin* faded away altogether." Another expedition, which resulted in still greater disaster, was his attempt to capture the fort of Dugdhaghāta from the Darads. The attack on the fort was undertaken on the report of the spies to the effect that the snow which was kept there for the use of the garrison had at that time become exhausted by a drought. But unfortunately for the king, the distress of the besieged was soon relieved by a heavy rainfall, and the Kashmirians rendered "miserable by the rain, remembered their houses" and began to retreat. The Darads took up the pursuit and spread confusion and slaughter in the ranks of Harṣa. Kalhaṇa notices that in the disgraceful rout Malla and his two sons Uccala and Sussala alone 'did not flee, but endeavoured to save the army,' which was left without leaders. While Harṣa thus failed in achieving success nearer home, he formed visionary projects to overthrow the Karṇāta king Paramardi and capture his queen Candalā.²