History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c7.s6.3

v1.c7.s6.3

All these sentences are double meaning and poetical in a way which is only possible in Sanskrit; but the sense as applicable to Harsha is very important in this inquiry and may be given as follows:—“He the conqueror by force, made the several kings, their allies or supporters being cut off, immovable (in their kingdoms). He the lord of all peoples pardoned (and allowed to rule) all kings and chieftains. He the greatest of all men having conquered the king of Sind, made his wealth his own. He of great physical strength let off the great elephant after having released from its trunk the king (Kumāra). He the great emperor anointed Kumāra a king. He the supreme lord exacted tribute from the inaccessible land of the Himālaya mountains. He the protector of all peoples appointed protectors and governors of peoples in the several directions.” From this passage we glean not only the information that Harsha conquered all the kingdoms of Hindustan but that he allowed the conquered kings to rule them under his suzerainty. Some particular countries are also mentioned as humbled, namely, Sind and Kashmir or perhaps Nepal which must be the country in the inaccessible Himālayas which paid tribute to him. The king anointed by him must be the Kumārarāja of Assam, whom perhaps being his first ally and willing riend he raised to a higher dignity by crowning him himsef, or gave him the kingdom of Saśānka as mentioned further on. The letting off of the elephant is explained by the commentator by mentioning a legend that the Kumārarāja was once seized by the riding elephant of Harsha with his trunk, and that Harsha who was a man of great personal prowess and courage rescued him by cutting off the elephant's trunk with his sword, the trunkless elephant being thereafter let off in the jungles. Lastly Harsha maintained his vast empire under his subjection and without disturbance not only by his constant movements to and fro with a strong army of elephant and horse but he had his own governors to collect tribute and to maintain law and order appointed in all directions much like the present Political Agents maintained by the British Government in Native States. This passage thus gives very important information which coming from an eye witness is of special value.