The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s6.90

v1.c7.s6.90

But Gautamīputra would not rest content with these small gains. He was determined to recover for the Sātavāhanas the position which they had formerly held under his great predecessors, Sātakarṇi (II) and Puḷumāvi (I). He had only six more years in which to accomplish this, for he died in A.D. 86. But within that period his success was phenomenal. How far he realized his ambition to recover the imperial position of the Sātavāhanas may be gathered from the description of his dominions and personality recorded by his mother, Gotami Balaśrī. The territories included the countries of Asika, Asaka, Muḷaka, Surāṣṭra, Kukura, Aparānta, Anūpa, Vidarbha, Ākara, and Avanti; the mountainous regions of Vindhya, Achavata, Pariyatra, Sahya, Kaṇhagiri, Siritana, Malaya, Mahendra, Seta, and Chakora, and extended as far as the seas on either side.³ He imposed his will on the kingly order. He was comely in countenance like the lotus in bloom, immensely strong, and a warrior of renown. He never lost a battle, and was a terror to his enemies yet did not harm them if he could avoid it. He humbled the power and pride of the Kshatriyas, destroyed the Yavanas, Śakas, and Pahlavas and extirpated the family of Khakharāṭas. He was uniquely skilled as an archer, absolute as a sovereign, a figure of heroic mould. Over all the fortresses of his enemies, deemed impregnable hitherto, his flag now fluttered in the breeze.