History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c10.s3.36

c10.s3.36

(a) Probably it alludes to his reluctance to avail himself of his father’s preference for him, which Prabhākaravardhana seems to have indicated on his death-bed in these words: “Succeed to this world; appropriate my treasury; make prize of the feudatory kings; support the burden of royalty; protect the people; guard well your dependants.”³ There was nothing incongruous in passing over the claims of the elder son, Rājyavardhana, for such selections appear to have been common in the Gupta times as well. Samudragupta was chosen to succeed his father to the distress of "others of equal birth," and with the consent of the state council (sabhyeṣūchvasiteṣu). Similarly Samudragupta also chose his successor (tatparigṛhītena). But Harṣa was too noble-minded to take advantage of his brother's absence, and instead of striking while the iron was hot, he is represented to have thought thus: "Let sovereign glory flee to a hermitage;"¹ and "let valour mortify herself in forest seclusion, let heroism put on rags."²