History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c15.s1.t1.3

c15.s1.t1.3

We are told that in 648 A. D. the Emperor of China with whom, as already noted, Harṣa had cultivated diplomatic friendship, sent a superior officer named Wangheuen-tse as head of a new mission “in order that the principles of humanity and justice which had been diffused in that country should have a protector and representative there.”¹ But before he arrived, She-lo-ye-to or king Śīlāditya had died, and the country was in the throes of a revolution.² One of the ministers named Na-fo-ti-a-la-na-shun, or O-la-na-shun (i.e., Aruṇāśva or Arjuna) usurped the deceased monarch’s throne and sent soldiers to oppose the entry of Wang-heuen-tse, who, however, took with him some tens of cavalry and directed a counter attack against the forces of the usurper. The small armed escort of the mission was massacred in cold blood, and the tributes received on the way were seized, but Wang-heuen-tse in the dead of night was lucky enough to make his way to the western frontiers of Too-fan or Tibet. This triumph of the usurper stimulated his ambitions, and he further “used violence to make other kingdoms pay him tribute.”³ But the Chinese envoy resolved to avenge his humiliation, and called upon the neighbouring kingdoms to render him assistance. The king of Tibet, the famous Srong-btsan-Gampo, who was married to the Chinese princess Weng Chang, sent him a contingent of one thousand armed men, and Nepal supplied 7,000 cavalry. Having organised this small force, Wang-heuen-tse descended into the plains to give battle, and took the city of Too-po-ho-lo⁴ by assault in three days. Three thousand men were beheaded, and ten thousand more were drowned in the river identified by Smith with the Bagmati. O-lo-na-shun or Arjuna escaped into another kingdom, and rallying his dispersed hosts attempted a fresh encounter. But he again met with a disastrous rout, being taken prisoner along with a large body of men, who were promptly beheaded. In a subsequent action the Chinese general captured 12,000 men and women, besides animals of all kinds amounting to 20,000. He also subdued 580 towns, and his power grew so strong that even She-keaou-mo or Srikumāra, who had been a firm ally of Harṣa, sent a large number of oxen, horses, weapons, and provisions for the victorious army. Wang-heuen-tse brought Arjuna to China to present him to the Emperor as a vanquished foe and received ample recognition of his services by being promoted to the rank of Chao-san-ta-fu (a sort of aulic councillor).¹ The authority of the usurper was thus subverted, and with it the last vestiges of Harṣa's power also disappeared.