The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.304

v1.c16.304

diplomacy was eminently successful, and the *Pīṭhīpatis* henceforward materially helped Rāmapāla in his campaign against the Kaivartas. The Pāla prince then travelled to the principalities of his *Sāmanta-cakra* and of the forest chiefs (*āṭavikāḥ*=*aṭavīya-sāmantāḥ*), to win them over to his cause.¹ He also distributed wealth and granted land with unstinted generosity. Thus by a judicious use of policy and his sword he at last succeeded in gaining the good will of his feudatories and raised a powerful army consisting of cavalry, elephants and infantry.² By this time the Kaivarta chief Divvoka was dead. Their leader now was Bhīma, the son of Rūdoka, the brother of Divvoka. The campaign against him was opened by the *Mahāpratīhāra* Sivarāja, the nephew of Mathana.³ He crossed the Ganges, and entering Varendrī, crushed the *rakṣaka-vyūhas* of Bhīma, and for a time was so successful that the whole country appeared to be free from the control of the Kaivartas.⁴ But this was merely a *reconnaissance en force*. The real campaign came some time later, when Rāmapāla, in addition to his maternal uncle Mathana, the latter's sons the *Mahāmāṇḍalikas* Kāhnuradeva and Suvarṇadeva⁵ and Mathana's nephew the *Mahāpratīhāra* Śivarājadeva,⁶ was assisted by the following *Sāmantas*:⁷