The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.95

v1.c13.95

“The parricide miscreant king, when his descent to hell was near, placed on the throne a young child called Śūravarman (II), whom the servant-girls of his seraglio had procured from somewhere and falsely declared to be the king's son." Before the child-king's position could be consolidated, the commander-in-chief (*Kampanādhipati*),¹ Kamalavardhana, advanced on the capital from Maḍavarājya, and easily defeated the royal troops. He, however, very foolishly did not ascend the throne at once, but 'collected all the Brahmans and canvassed them, in his desire for the royal power.' The Brahmans, who are described by Kalhaṇa as 'resembling bulls without horns,' dressed in coarse woollen cloaks, met in an assembly and debated the question for 5 or 6 days. At last their choice fell upon Yaśaskara, the ambitious and eloquent son of Prabhākaradeva, 'the secret paramour of Sugandhā,' who had just returned from abroad.