The Colas c14.3

c14.3

‘At the head of the great battle of Śrī Puṟambiya, this hero (Pṛthivīpati I) quickly defeated Varaguṇa, the Lord of the Pāṇḍyas; and having, at the expense of his own life, secured that his friend was Aparājita (unconquered) in fact as in name, he ascended to heaven.’¹ In these terms the Udayēndiram plates of Gaṅga Pṛthivīpati II record the part of his ancestor and namesake in the decisive battle which proved to be a turning-point in the history of Southern India. For the Pāṇḍyas never recovered from this staggering blow, and the Pallavas, though victory remained with them in the battle, owed it more to their allies than to their own strength. Thoroughly exhausted by incessant warfare on two fronts, against the Cāḷukyas and Pāṇḍyas, they were themselves in no position to pursue the advantage gained. Among the allies of the Pallavas were, besides the Gaṅga feudatory, the Cōḷa ruler Āditya I who, though he must have taken a subordinate place in the battle of Śrī Puṟambiyam, very soon discovered his advantage, and commanded the strength and energy to pursue it. The latest date known for Pṛthivīpati I is A.D. 879;² the battle in which he lost his life must have taken place about that date.