The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s6.45

v1.c7.s6.45

The Nānāghāṭ record and the relievo inscriptions there show that Queen Nāganikā, the wife of Sātakarṇi (II), was the mother of Vedisiri and Satisiri. Even if she did in fact govern the kingdom as Regent during the minority of Vedisiri, as Dr. Bühler and Prof. Rapson would have us believe, there is at least no evidence to show that any of her sons ever ascended the Sātavāhana throne. Of the eight successors of Sātakarṇi (II) before Puḷumāvi (I), the Vāyu Purāṇa notices only one, Apilaka by name. He was the son of Lambodara and ruled for twelve years. A copper coin of this king comes to us from the Central Provinces.¹ The legend on it shows that King Apilaka bore both Śiva and Śrī as prefixes to his name. With his reign (110-98 B.C.) began the dwindling of the Sātavāhana dominions which reduced them eventually once again to the status of a mere Deccani power.