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Introduction
LXX1
know of is that of Şilāditya VII of the year 766 A. D. That makes him a contemporary of Dharmapāla, with whom, according to Soddhala he waged a successful war. This early reverse in arms that Dharmapala must have suffered at the hands of Silāditya VII might explain why there is no king soon after Gopālaka. However this may be, we can say almost with certainty that Şilāditya VII and Dharmapāla were contemporaries and that it is Şilăditya VII that is referred to by Soddhala.
From this survey of the kings of Maitraka dynasty from Sri Bhațārka to Siladitya VII we find Valabhi assuming prominence in the history of India. It must not, however, be supposed that the city of Valabhi was found by the Maitrakas or that it had no prominence before that. We have evidence to infer the existence of Valabhi in the second century A. D. In the collection of articles found near Valabhi made by Mr. Vajeshankar Gaurishankar there are clay seals of the second and the fifth century A. D. which prove the existence of the place at that time. Ptolemy of the second century A. D. seems to refer to Valabhi under the name of Balai. Valabhi was not so much inland in ancient times as it is now. According to the author of the B. G. "its choice as capital was probably due to its being a harbour on the Bhavanagara creek. Since the days of Valabhi's prime the silt which thickly covers the ruins had also filled and choked the channel which once united it with the Bhavnagara creek when Ghelā was probably a fair - sized river ” (p. 79.).
We find reference to Valabhi in the story literature which generally give imaginary place-names but make
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