The Colas c24.51

c24.51

It is thus seen that the attempts of Rājēndra met with a considerable measure of success and that for some years, between 1238 and 1250, the Cōḷa power once more held its own against its enemies and 'feudatories', thanks to the loyalty and co-operation of the Telugu-Cōḍas of Nellore. The attempt to put down the rising power of the Pāṇḍyas necessarily failed; this would have been the case even if Sōmēśvara had not gone to the aid of the Pāṇḍyas; for the latter had always been too strong for the Cōḷas even when the Cōḷa empire was in the prime of its strength; and from the time of Vikrama-cōḷa, the Cōḷa hold on the Pāṇḍya territory had been little more than nominal; and now the Pāṇḍyas had the added prestige born of their recent successes against their quondam suzerains. For the rest of it, however, Rājēndra's achievement is sufficient justification for his being described in his *praśasti* as the 'restorer of the race of Manu' and the 'ruler who avenged the humiliation of the Cōḷas.'