The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c20.31.3

v1.c20.31.3

The incipient hostility of the Pālas in the east and the powerful combination of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas and the Arabs were perennial sources of danger. As Mas‘ūdī has pointed out, they had to maintain four mighty armies to meet “enemies in every direction.” The economic consequences of continuing such a struggle would have sapped the foundation of any empire, and the Gurjara empire was no exception to the operation of inexorable economic laws. The crash appears to have come soon after 915 A. D. Verse 19 of the Cambay plates of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa Govinda IV contains the following passage about the northern expedition of Govinda’s father Indra III. “The courtyard (of the temple of the god) Kālapriya became uneven by the stroke of the tusks of his rutting elephants. His steeds crossed the unfathomable Yamunā, which rivals the sea (*Sindhu-prati-spardhinī*). He completely uprooted (*nirmmūlaṁ unmūlitam*) the hostile city of Mahodaya, which is even to-day greatly renowned among men by the name Kuśasthala.”¹ As “the god Kālapriya is generally identified with Mahākāla” of Ujjayinī, the passage suggests that Indra III proceeded in his northern expedition by way of Malwa. The statement of this inscription is further supported by some passages of the *Vikramārjuna-vijaya* of the Kanarese poet Pampa usually known as *Pampa-Bhārata*. This poem was composed in about *Śaka* 863 (941 A. D.) under the patronage of the Cālukya chief Arikesarin, a feudatory of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa Govinda IV.