The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s5.9

v1.c8.s5.9

The relations between the Vākāṭakas and the Western Kṣatrapas during the reign of Pṛthivīṣeṇa I (A.D. 360-85) are not definitely known. We have seen already how during the reign of the Vākāṭaka ruler Rudrasena I, Rudradāman II reasserted his independence and resumed the title of mahākṣatrapa, which had been in abeyance for about thirty-two years. But Rudrasena III, the son of Rudradāman II, had not a peaceful reign. He suffered from a serious reversal in his fortunes, which led to the total eclipse of the Kshatrapa power during the period A.D. 351-64. What was the cause of this catastrophe is not yet definitely known, but it does not seem probable that either Rudrasena I or his son Prithvishena I had anything to do with it. It is possible to argue that the Vākāṭakas may have at this time once more made a successful effort to reassert their overlordship over the Kshatrapas, but there is not much evidence to support this conjecture.¹ The Vākāṭaka charters were first drafted in the reign of Pravarasena II. This ruler knew full well how his maternal grandfather had overthrown the Kshatrapas. If his paternal grandfather, Prithvishena I, also had temporarily occupied the Kshatrapa kingdom and thus in a way paved the way for the Gupta conquest, there is no reason why he should have been silent about this achievement of his house. Of course it is possible to argue that the incident is not referred to in the Vākāṭaka records because the conquest was temporary, but we should not forget that even ephemeral victories are often magnified in the copper plate charters. The indications given by the evidence available at present, however, show that the Vākāṭakas had not much to do with the Kshatrapa misfortunes during A.D. 351-64.