History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c7.9

v1.c7.9

We next go on to describe the kingdom of Molapo or Malwa as described by Hiuen Tsang. "Its capital" says he "was on the south-east side of the Mahi river. The people were intelligent, of a refined speech and of liberal education. Malwa in the south-west and Magadha in the north-east were the two countries where learning was prized. In this country virtue was esteemed and humanity respected." This flattering description applies to ancient Malwa as a whole, for Malwa throughout Sanskrit literature bears a high reputation for learning. But Molapo must be identified with Western Malwa (as at present constituted politically) as the capital is said to be near the Mahi river, which is even now a river of Western Malwa as well as Gujarat. It may perhaps have been Dhārānagari noted in the next few centuries as the seat of the Paramāras, the liberal patrons of learning and learned men. Dhārā is mentioned in the Jaunpur inscription of Īśvaravarmā (Gupta Ins. Vol. III, plate No. 51, p. 230), and thus must have been in existence even at that time. Whatever the capital may have been, this Malwa of Hiuen Tsang owing to the mention of the Mahi is undoubtedly Western Malwa; Eastern Malwa, separated from it by the Chambal river, being mentioned by him as Ujjain of which we shall speak presently. Who the king of this Western Malwa was it does not clearly appear. Hiuen Tsang mentions that from the records of this kingdom, about sixty years before his arrival, there ruled here a Śīlāditya who was famous for his rare kindness and compassion. He was a Buddhist and had a temple of Buddha built near his palace. "This fine work had been continued for successive generations without interruption." (See Records, Watters, Vol. II, p. 242.) The life adds, "He would not injure even a fly. He caused the water given to the horses and elephants to be strained, unless he should destroy the life of a water-insect. He impressed on the people of the country to avoid taking life. Thus for fifty years he continued on the throne,' p. 148. If this king ruled Western Malwa for fifty years, sixty years before Hiuen Tsang's visit in 640 A. D., he must be taken to have come to the throne in 530 A. D. or somewhere about it and died in 580. At this time, therefore, his grandson or perhaps great-grandson must, have been ruling in Western Malwa. Who this Śīlāditya was we shall discuss in a note.