On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c14.14

v1.c14.14

This sovereign was of the Vaiśya caste, his personal name was Harshavardhana, and he was the younger son of the great king whose name was Prabhākaravardhana. When the latter died he was succeeded on the throne by his elder son named Rāja- (or Rājya) vardhana. The latter soon after his accession was treacherously murdered by Śaśaṅka, the wicked king of Karṇasuvarṇa in East India, a persecutor of Buddhism. Hereupon the statesmen of Kanauj, on the advice of their leading man Bāni (or Vāni), invited Harshavardhana, the younger brother of the murdered king, to become their sovereign. The prince modestly made excuses, and seemed unwilling to comply with their request.