The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c28.62

v2.c28.62

According to these verses, therefore, Yaśovarman dominated the whole region from the Himalayas to Malwa and from Kashmir to Bengal. As I have already pointed out, much of this is no doubt mere *praśasti*, and poetic exaggeration. Thus the expression *Kośalaḥ Kośalānām* seems rather to convey a desire on the poet's part to show his skill in punning than an historical sense. But there is no inherent impossibility in the assumption, that he really raided a large portion of northern India. His victory over the Cedi king, which is mentioned twice, looks like a genuine fact; and it is likely that one of the earlier Kalacuri princes of Tripurī, possibly Lakṣmaṇarāja or his predecessor Yuvarāja I, was the *Cedirāja* whose 'countless forces,' were defeated by Yaśovarman after a fierce contest. The contemporary Gauḍa king was probably either Rājyapāla or his son Gopāla II. In Kashmir reigned at this period a series of comparatively unimportant princes beginning with Cakravarman (923-37 A.D.), and ending in Parvagupta (949-50 A.D.) while the Khaśa state of Lohara was ruled by one of the predecessors of Siṁharāja (*c.* 950 A.D.), possibly Candurāja. The territories of the Mālavas, Kośalas, and Kurus appear to have been still under the Gurjara rulers of Kanauj, while Mithilā at this period may have been recovered by the Pālas of Bengal and Bihar.¹ If there is any basis of fact in these claims of successful invasions and victories it is clear that he soon became a standing menace to the imperial house at Kanauj. The expression *Saṁjvaro Gurjarāṇāṁ* suggests that he may have even come into violent conflict with his former overlords. But the Khajraho inscription of Dhaṅga dated in V.S. 1011 shows that though practically independent, the Candellas still retained in their official documents the fiction of their subservience to the Gurjara-Pratīhāras.²