The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c13.s5.27

v2.c13.s5.27

Of Yuddhamalla I we get a very exaggerated eulogy from the Kollipaṛa plates issued by his son; he is compared to Rāma in valour and described as a *viśvarāṭ* (universal emperor); he is said to have subjugated the whole world with the aid of the boar-crest obtained by the royal family as a boon from Lord Nārāyaṇa, and among the kings who bowed at his feet are counted those of Turushka, Yavana, Barbara, Kāśmīra, Kāmbhoja, Magadha, Mālava, Kaliṅga, Gaṅga, Pallava, Pāṇḍya, Kerala, and others. Such unhistorical fustian goes far to justify the doubts cast upon the genuineness of this record in general. In refreshing contrast to it, we get some definite facts about the king's activities from the later inscriptions and from Pampa. These facts are three in number: (1) he ruled the Sapādalakṣa country and his suzerainty was acknowledged by many feudatories; (2) he made artificial tanks of brick and mortar (*saudhamayīm*) in Poḍana, filled them with oil, and thus made provision, from his immense material resources, for the daily bathing of 500 elephants; (3) he captured the impregnable natural fortress of Chitrakūṭa; this last fact is mentioned only in the Vēmulavāḍa rock inscription.