The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c19.s1.27

v1.c19.s1.27

This inscription bestows vague praise on most of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa princes with the exception of Madanapāla, the 6th of the line. We are told about this ruler that in consequence of his "distinguished prowess there never was any talk of Hamvīras' coming to the banks of the river of the gods" (Ganges). The identification of this Hamvīra with the Yamīnī Sulṭān Ma'sūd III² (*c.* 1099-1115 A.D.) is suggested by a Set Mahet Buddhist stone-inscription, dated in (V) Ś. 1176 (A.D. 1119-20),³ which mentions a Gādhi-purādhipa Gopāla and Madana, who are most probably to be identified with the Rāṣṭrakūṭa princes (4) and (6) in the Budaun record bearing the same names.⁴ As Budaun was conquered by Quṭb ud-Dīn in A. D. 1202 and was conferred as a fief on Shams ud-Din Iltutmish, we may infer that Lakhaṇapāla was the last Hindu ruler of that area, and probably flourished in the first quarter of the 13th century. If this date for him be correct, then we may assign Madanapāla, the 6th prince in the ascending line from Lakhaṇapāla, to the first quarter of the 12th century A. D. The proximity of the dates and of the areas, *viz.*, Badaun and Kanauj, leaves very little doubt that the two records relate to the same persons, Gopāla and Madanapāla.