The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.115

v1.c16.115

Vigrahapāla I appears to be a rather shadowy personality. Though it is sometimes said of him that he was the cause of infinite trouble to his enemies, or that he was a veritable enemy-destroying Indra, no definite victories are ascribed in any inscription to him. Our suspicions seem to be confirmed by V. 17 of the Bhāgalpur grant of his son Nārāyaṇapāla, which runs as follows: "Let asceticism be mine and the kingdom thine. Thus two men have spoken to two others, Vigrahapāla to him and Sagara to Bhagīratha." This appears to be a clear hint that Vigrahapāla I abdicated in favour of his son. Another hint of his peaceful disposition seems to be contained in V. 7 of the same inscription, which compares him with Ajātaśatru, which was a name of the elder Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira.¹ The same verse informs us that Vigrahapāla married Lajjā, the ornament of the Haihaya race (*Haihaya-vaṁsa-bhūṣā*). The Badal *praśasti* informs us that Sūrapāla often attended the sacrificial ceremonies of his Brahman minister Kedāra Miśra, and with bent head and his soul bathed in the waters of faith, received the holy waters (V. 15). To this king are ascribed two inscriptions incised on the pedestal of two images of Buddha. These are said to have been found somewhere in Bihar and are supposed to contain the name of Uddaṇḍapura (mod. town of Bihar). The inscriptions record that the images were installed by Pūrṇadāśa, a Buddhist monk of Sind, in the 3rd year of Sūrapāla.²