The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.302

v1.c16.302

¹ *EI*, Vol. IX, pp. 324-327. In view of the meaning of *Pīṭhī* given by the commentator of the *Rāma-carita*, as *Magadha*, Sten Konow's identification with Pithapuram, in Veṅgī must be given up. See *ibid*, p. 322; *JBORS*, Vol. IV, p. 267. The same commentator on II, 5, explains *Mayadhadhipati*, by *Pīṭhīpati*. See *MASB*, Vol. III, No. 1, pp. 36 and 38. Though this victory of Mathana is given in the second chapter of the *Rāma-carita*, where the author is describing the campaign of Rāmapāla on the north, it should not be taken as having occurred in that campaign. This incident was an explanatory note on the activities of Mathana just as in the list of the *Sāmantas* various incidents are mentioned to explain the importance of each of the feudatories. This is finally proved by the fact that the *Pīṭhīpati* himself was marching with Rāmapāla; and unless we assume that there were two such rulers, which is extremely unlikely, we have to assume that Bhīmayaśas, the ally of Rāmapāla, was a successor of Devarakṣita, who was defeated by his uncle Mathana.