History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c10.s3.60

c10.s3.60

Thus Kanauj was left in a hopeless state of confusion deprived as it was of its young Maukhari ruler. The kingdom, however, needed at this time the protection of a strong and guiding hand to inaugurate an era of growth and prosperity, and to ensure immunity from future attack or aggression from any hostile quarter. Grahavarman had left no heir as the following statement by Patralatā on behalf of Rājyaśrī shows: “A husband or a son is a woman's true support; but to those who are deprived of both, it is immodesty even to continue to live.”² Besides, the Harṣacarita also hints at the “disappearance of all her other relatives,”³ which expression probably means that the younger brothers of Grahavarman, for he was Avantivarman's eldest son (Sūnuragrajaḥ), had either been killed, or had fled away during the Gupta-Gauḍa disturbance. Should the crown, therefore, devolve upon the widowed queen Rājyaśrī, or was she to be doomed to obscurity, and her claims altogether ignored? But perhaps Rājyaśrī herself was unwilling to undertake the responsibilities and onerous duties of rulership. She was a young and inexperienced woman, and she was under the shadow of a great bereavement and affliction. Besides, she was by nature inclined to the quietist teachings of Buddhism; hence there was little chance of her governing with vigour and success at this crisis.