The Colas c19.68

c19.68

In summing up the earlier achievements of Vīrarājēndra, his later inscriptions which record the transactions just noticed, mention at the outset the beheading of the Pāṇḍya, the collection of tribute from the Kēraḷa and the subjugation of Ceylon,¹⁷⁴ events which recall the inscriptions of Rājādhirāja and Rājēndra. It is quite possible that as in the fight at Muḍakkāṟu, (which we have identified with the first battle of Kūḍal-Śangamam and which is mentioned at the end of this *praśasti* and the beginning of the grant portion), Vīrarājēndra took part in the campaign conducted by his brothers in the southern countries, long before any idea of his accession to the throne dawned on his mind. The wars against Sōmēśvara in which Vīrarājēndra took part are briefly summed up in this form of the *praśasti* in the statement that the Cōḷa king saw the back of Āhavamalla, that is to say, put him to flight, on five different occasions.¹⁷⁵