History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.s1.39

v1.c14.s1.39

Śankaravarman was a valiant king but unlike his father he turned out an oppressor of his people. We will notice the ways of his oppression separately, but the poet says that fifty sons of his died in youth without disease by the curse of his subjects. This is probably an exaggeration as we shall presently see. While returning from an expedition, he encamped in Uraśa (Hazara country) of Hiuen Tsang and in a sudden quarrel with its people a random arrow pierced his throat. The army proceeded on its way back to Kashmir under the guidance of discreet commanders; but Śankaravarman died on the way as the arrow was being extracted. The body was burnt in Kashmir territory and three of his queens, two of his servants and one faithful minister burnt themselves on the same pyre. This fact shows that he was not quite unpopular. It also shows that the practice of servants and ministers, faithful and affectionate, killing themselves on the funeral pyre of kings described by Bāṇa also in Harsha Charita was still prevalent. (In fact it obtains in Japan even at this day.) Śankaravarman died in 77 in Fālguna (V. 222) i. e. in 902 A. D. after a rule of 8 years.