History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c5.13.1

v1.c5.13.1

Such were the strange, yet not improbable, circumstances which, within a few months of the year 606 A. D. (about May), placed Harsha on the throne of Thanesar at the early age of 16². They have been very eloquently related by Bāṇa, the most famous prose writer of Sanskrit literature, who was Harsha's contemporary and protege, and they are supported to a considerable extent by the account of Hiuen Tsang, the most famous and trustworthy traveller of China who was honoured for his Buddhist learning and piety by Harsha. Young as he was, Harsha was a man of extraordinary courage, ability and good fortune like his remote successor Akbar who fought his first battle at 14, ascended the throne of Dehli a few months later and assumed absolute power at 18. Harsha resolved at once on punishing the dastardly Gupta of Bengal and on rescuing the unfortunate queen of Kanauj. He harnessed his army of elephants, horses and men with a view not only to conquer Bengal but the whole of India, for he well surmised that the whole country would be arrayed against him, unfriended and inexperienced as he apparently was. To quote the poetic expression of Bāṇa he therefore asked his foreign secretary to write to all the kings of India to proffer either battle or submission. He started immediately on this *Digvijaya* or expedition for the conquest of the four quarters.