The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c24.s3.35

c24.s3.35

At present nothing is known concerning the causes which brought about the downfall of this dynasty, which had succeeded in retaining power for a period so unusually prolonged. It would seem that Yajna Srī was the last king to retain control of both the eastern and western provinces.¹ Scions of the Sātavāhana race appear to have established minor kingdoms in different parts of the Deccan. But the third century after Christ is one of the dark spaces in the spectrum of Indian history, and almost every event of that time is concealed from view by an impenetrable veil of oblivion. Vague speculation, unchecked by the salutary limitations of verified fact, is, at the best, unprofitable; and so we must be content to let the Āndhras pass away in the darkness. The Purānas present confused and corrupt lists of numerous local dynasties, including Yavanas and Sakas, obviously foreigners, as having succeeded the Āndhras, which it is impossible to arrange in any intelligible fashion.¹