The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c31.s3.5

c31.s3.5

The next glimpse of this remote region is afforded by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang. When he was staying for the second time at the Nālandā monastery, early in A. D. 643, he was compelled, much against his will, to pay a visit to the king of Kāmarūpa, who insisted on making the acquaintance of the renowned scholar, and would not take a refusal. After a short stay at the capital of Kāmarūpa, Harsha Sīlāditya, the Kanauj sovereign, sent a message commanding that Hiuen Tsang should be sent to him. The king replied that Harsha might take his head if he could, but should not get his Chinese visitor. However, when Harsha sent a peremptory order to the effect that he would trouble the king to send back his head by the messenger, that potentate, on second thoughts, deemed it advisable to comply with the request of his suzerain, and hastened to meet Harsha, bringing the pilgrim with him.