The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c29.s2.142

v2.c29.s2.142

*Prabandhacintāmaṇi*.¹ In the east, according to Tibetan tradition, Karṇa is said to have attacked Magadha and destroyed numerous Buddhist temples and monasteries.² This traditional picture of Karṇa is fully sustained by epigraphic evidence. Thus the Bheraghat inscription of Alhaṇadevī gives the following account of his victories: "While this king, of unprecedented lustre, gave full play to his heroism, the Pāṇḍya relinquished violence, the Murala gave up his arrogant bearing, the Kuṅga entered the path of the good, Vaṅga trembled with the Kaliṅga, the Kīra stayed at home like a parrot in the cage, (and) the Hūṇa left off being merry."³ The Karanbel stone-inscription of Jayasiṁha tells us that Karṇa was waited upon by Coḍa, Kuṅga, Hūṇa, Gauḍa, Gurjara, and Kīra princes.⁴ These claims of the Kalacuri inscriptions are supported by the records of their contemporaries. Thus the Nagpur stone-inscription of the Paramāras tells us that, when Bhojadeva 'had become Indra's companion, and when the realm was overrun by floods, in which its sovereign was submerged, his relation Udayāditya became king. Delivering the earth, which was troubled by kings and taken possession of by Karṇa, who, joined by the Karṇāṭas, was like the mighty ocean, this prince did indeed act like the holy Boar.'⁵ The Candella records also admit that their kingdom was for a time completely destroyed by the invasions of Lakṣmī- Karṇa.¹ This fact seems to be referred to by Bilhaṇa, the court poet of the Cālukya king, Someśvara I (1044-68 A.D.) who describes Karṇa as the ‘death to the lords of Kālañjara mountain.’ The records of the dynasties of Bengal and Bihar also refer to the intimate relationship of Karṇa with the princes ruling there. Two of his daughters, Yauvanaśrī and Vīraśrī, appear to have been married to the Pāla and Varman kings Vigrahapāla III and Jātavarman, respectively. The *Rāmacarita* refers to conflicts between Karṇa and Vigrahapāla III. The discovery of a decorative pillar-inscription of Karṇa at Paikore in the Birbhum district of Bengal seems to substantiate his claim to victory over the kings of Gauḍa.²