The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.244

v1.c13.244

The news of the king's death produced wild confusion in the palace, in the midst of which the murderers escaped with the dead body of the slaughtered king. For some time Jayasiṁha was helpless, and was in danger of meeting with the same fate as his father. But, fortunately for him, the rebels did not attack his place of residence. In this crisis Jayasiṁha decided upon a wise plan, and announced in the city with beating of drums a general amnesty in the following terms: "Whatever a person may have taken to himself, that is now forsaken by me, and amnesty is given to those who have joined the enemy, guilty though they may be." The result of this was magical. The almost deserted king soon found himself surrounded by citizens shouting blessings upon him. Kalhaṇa notices that this judicious step was 'an almost complete departure from the procedure followed by the immediately preceding kings.' The king's position improved so rapidly that when Bhikṣācāra next attempted to enter the city, he was easily repulsed by Pañcacandra, the son of Gargacandra who had joined the king. Sujji and other trusty officials of Sussala also soon cut their way to the capital through the Ḍāmara bands from the various parts of the Valley, and saved the king from all immediate danger.¹ The subsequent efforts of Bhikṣācāra were defeated by Sujji on the Gambhīrā and at Dāmodara, south of Śrīnagara. By a judicious use of bribes the king then isolated from Bhikṣācāra's side many of the prominent Ḍāmaras, and the pretender, finding himself almost alone, left Kashmir. Somapāla who had concluded a treaty with Jayasiṁha, did not give him refuge in Rājapurī, and Bhikṣācāra soon found out that 'even the gods have no pity in Trigarta, no morals in Campā, no generosity in Madra-land, and no goodwill in Dārvābhisāra.' He rejected with scorn the advice of his councillors to temporarily retire to Naravarman's ² country. He, however, accepted the invitation of his father-in-law, and stopped at his house on the bank of the Candrabhāgā. Thus within a brief period of four months Jayasiṁha found himself firmly settled on the throne.³