The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s4.186

v2.c30.s4.186

I have already referred to Bhoja's tragic end. The Udaipur *praśasti* states that "*when that devotee of Bharga (Siva) whose brilliancy resembled the sun (*i.e.*, Bhoja), had gone to the mansion of the gods, the earth, like Dhārā, was filled with dense darkness, his foes (and) his hereditary warriors became infirm in body. Then arose king Udayāditya another sun, as it were, destroying the dense darkness, the exalted foes, with the rays issuing from his strong sword (and thus) gladdening the hearts of his people by his splendour.*"¹ The Nagpur *praśasti* in referring to the same incident states that when "*he (Bhoja) had become Indra's companion and when the realm was overrun by floods, in which the sovereign was submerged, his relation Udayāditya became king. Delivering the earth, which was troubled by kings and taken possession of by Karṇa,*² *who, joined by the Karṇāṭas, was like the mighty ocean, this prince did indeed act like the holy boar.*"³ According to both these inscriptions Udayāditya was the successor of Bhoja. But the Mandhata and Panahera inscriptions of Jayasiṁha conclusively prove that during the period V.S. 1112-1116 the ruler of Mālava was not Udayāditya but Jayasiṁha. As the earliest date of Udayāditya is V.S. 1116,¹ there is no difficulty in fitting in the reign of Jayasiṁha between those of Bhoja and Udayāditya. Kielhorn has pointed out instances where predecessors are sometimes omitted in the genealogical lists of Indian inscriptions. But in this particular case, a strong motive for omission may have been the fact that Udayāditya usurped the Mālava crown by ousting the lawful successor of Bhoja. As to the relationship of Bhoja with Jayasiṁha we have only to depend upon the expression *pādānudhyāta*, which separates the latter’s name from that of his predecessor. Though this word does not necessarily indicate the relationship of father and son, yet in this particular case, in view of the fact that Bhoja died at an advanced age, it is quite likely that he may have left Jayasiṁha as his son and successor.² The two following records are known for the reign of Jayasiṁha.