The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s13.4

v1.c8.s13.4

The Vākāṭaka kingdom was fairly extensive, but its rulers were content with the mere title of *mahārāja*. Only one amongst them, Pravarasena I, who was undoubtedly a great conqueror, took the title *samrāṭ*, probably because he had performed the *vājapeya* sacrifice, which, according to the sacred texts, entitles a ruler to assume that designation. His successors reverted to the old and simple title *mahārāja*. We have shown already that this title had nothing whatever to do with any imagined reduction of the Vākāṭaka sovereigns at any time to mere feudatory status,¹ and had in fact no connexion with such a status, whether real or fancied.