The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.78

v1.c16.78

The evidence of these records shows that Dharmapāla ruled at least for 32 years, and held sway over territory extending from Pāṭaliputra to Rajshahi. I have already discussed the reasons for thinking that he reigned for a longer period which according to my calculation is 46 years (769-815 A.D.), and it is likely that he ruled directly over a more extensive area than the evidence of the inscriptions at present indicates. In his Khalimpur plate the *Yuvarāja* Tribhubanapāla is mentioned as the *Dūtaka* of the grant. Though not explicitly mentioned as such, he is usually taken by scholars to have been the eldest son and heir of Dharmapāla. As in the subsequent inscriptions Devapāla is mentioned as son and successor of Dharmapāla, it is supposed that he must have died during his father's lifetime. This is a possible explanation, though the likelihood of an Aśoka or Aurangzīb ousting their elder brothers who were de-facto *Yuvarājas* is not entirely eliminated. It should also be noticed that in Indian history a *Yuvarāja*, unless it is established on other evidence, should not necessarily be taken as the eldest son. In the case of Devapāla however the suggestion of any violence at the time of his accession appears to be contradicted by verse 12 of his Monghyr grant, which tells us that he succeeded to his father's dominions without any trouble (*nirupaplavam*), even as the Bodhisattva got *Saugatam padam*.