________________
60
The chroniclers record another successful expedition of Kumārapāla against Mallikarjuna. According to Merutunga, a bard, once, sang the praises of Mallikarjuna in the Court of Kumāra. pāla and called him “ Rajapitāmaha" or the grandfather of Kings. The king becoming very angry on hearing the high praises bestowed on the king of Konkana, looked at his samants. A minister named Āmbada, son of the famous Udayana, reading his mind stood before him with hands folded and requested the King to give him orders to march against the proud king of Kon. kana. King Kumarapala, being much pleased with him, gave him the command of an army that marched against Mallikarjuna. By a series of marches, Āmbada reached Konkana and crossing the river Kalavini (probably Kaveri, flowing by Valasāda and Chikbali) that was in flood, encamped on its bank. Hearing of his arrival, King Mallikarjuna came with an army to meet him. In the battle that followed, the Gujarata army was put to flight and Ambada was forced to return to Anabilavāda. Being ashamed of his defeat, he pitched a black tent, and putting on black clothes and adorning his crest with a black umbrella, lived outside the city. Kumāra pala, once seeing the black tent, asked his men whose onShree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat www.umaragyanbhandar.com
