Epigraphia Indica Vol 23

SR No.: 032577
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1935
Total Pages: 436
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 390

No. 49.] A FURTHER NOTE ON THE DATE OF THE MANNE PLATES OF STAMBHA. 297
cannot therefore conclude that the original form of it did not contain any verses descriptive of Govinda's sensational victories over Dharmapala, Chakrayudha and others, much less that these victories had not been attained when it was prepared.
Besides, the Sanjan plates1 show that these sensational vietories of Govinda III in Northern and Central India were achieved before his encampment at the capital of Mahārāja Sarva. Verse 23 of this grant describes the march of Govinda's army to the Himalayas, during the course of which Dharmapala and Chakrayudha submitted to him. The next verse (24) tells us that returning from there (tataḥ pratinivritya) he came down to the bank of the Narmada and conquered the Malava, Kōsala, Kalinga, Vēngi, Dahala and Oḍraka countries which he placed in charge of his feudatories. He then returned (pratyavrittaḥ) again to the Narmada and encamped at the capital of Mahārāja Sarva at the foot of the Vindhya, where his son Amōghavarsha was born (vv. 25-6). The wording of the verses 23-26 makes it plain that these events occurred in the chronological order stated therein. The existing versions of the stereotyped draft do not, of course, refer to Govinda's victorious campaigns in Northern and Central India (except that in which he defeated a Gurjara king) and the submission of Dharmapala and Chakrayudha, but they almost invariably mention his encampment during the rainy season at Sribhavana, the capital of Marasarva. Scholars are now agreed that this Mārasarva is none other than the Mahārāja Sarva mentioned in the Sanjan plates. It is plain, therefore, that Dharmapala and Chakrayudha must have submitted to Govinda long before the stereotyped draft of the latter's grants, was prepared; for the draft describes also Govinda's expeditions against the southern kings of Chōla, Pandya, Kerala, Vēngi, etc., which followed his campaigns in Northern and Central India.
If the Manne plates of Stambha were, therefore, issued, as I have tried to show, in Śaka 724, all the important victories of Govinda III-including the submission of Dharmapala and Chakrayudha-ust have been attained before Saka 724 or A.D. 802 i.e., during the first seven or eight years of his reign.
▲ Above, Vol. XVIII, pp. 235 ff.
2 Dr. Altekar also has accepted the identification, see his Rashtrakutas etc., p. 68, n. 55 (iv).