History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c16.s1.t6.25

c16.s1.t6.25

Mahendrapāla was not only a worthy ruler; he was also a liberal patron of polite letters. The greatest literary ornament of his court was Rājaśekhara, who has left a number of works of varying merit. He represents himself as the *Guru* or *Upādhyāya* (spiritual teacher) of king Mahendrapāla or Nirbhayarāja in all the extant plays,¹ and proudly traces his poetic descent from Vālmīki through one Bhartṛmentha and the well-known Bhavabhūti.² He continued his residence during the reign of his royal disciple's son Mahīpāla,³ but we do not know how long he maintained his connection with the latter's court. Of Rājaśekhara's literary productions we know of the following :—