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No. 44]
INSCRIPTIONS OF THE TIME OF YAJVAPALA GOPALA
Jajapella-vamsa. The title Mahākumāra borne by princes is well known from the inscriptions especially of the later Paramāras. Jaitravarman seems to have been the eldest son of Göpäla and the de facto ruler of the Yajvapala (Jajapella) kingdom during the later years of his father's reign. He, however, seems to have predeceased his father as the latter's throne passed after his death to his other son Ganapati. The title Mahapradhana appears to have been borne by the chief administrator or minister of the kingdom."
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The record then speaks of Ra° (i.e. Rauta) Haradeva who was the son of Ra° (i.e. Rauta) Kumvarasēha (Kumarasimha) and is probably stated to have belonged to the Chaupaha-maņiks family. Whether Chaunaha is a mistake for Chauhana cannot be determined. The inscription next speaks of the battle fought in the field near the Valaba river. It does not mention the Chandella king,, with whose forces the battle referred to in the record was undoubtedly fought. The inscription ends with the date: Chaitra-sudi 2, Saturday, which seems to be a mistake for Chaitra-sudi 7, Friday.
Inscription No. 4 begins with the Siddham symbol followed by the date: V. S. 1338, Chaitrasudi 7, Friday. It is then said that at that time, when Mahäräjädhiraja Gopala was ruling at Nalapura-durga and Ravata Jayatavrahmadēva (i.e. Jaitravarmadeva) and Mahapradhana Dējai were running the administration, a battle was fought with king Viravrahmadēva (i.e. Viravarmadēva) in the field near the river Valuvă. The title ravata was derived from Sanskrit rājaputra and seems to have been used as a variant of rauta. The concluding part of the inscription mentions Rajaputra Arasiha (i.e. Arisimha) and his son Dhadhaheu as well as Rajputra Sihadă. These three persons must have died in the battle, although that fact has not been clearly stated. The last sentence of the inscription seems to refer to a lady who committed Sati.
The language of lines 1-8 of Inscription No. 5 is similar to that of lines 1-9 of Inscription No. 4. The concluding part of Inscription No. 5 speaks of certain persons whose names are doubtful but may be Rajaputra Lasibhata, Vatha, Dede, Ra (i.e. Rauta) Sihadatta (i.e. Simhadatta), Sthadatta's son Rānā Gaughōsēna, and Mamaladeva. Although the word used with reference to these persons is merely yudham, there is no doubt that they died in fighting in the battle against the invading forces of Viravarman. The concluding words of the inscription are unintelligible.
The language of Inscription No. 6, which is indifferently engraved, is exceptionally corrupt. After the Siddham symbol followed by the word siddhiḥ and the date: V.S. 1338, Chaitra-sudi 7, Friday, there comes a metrically defective stanza referring to the battle fought on behalf of Gopala on the bank of the river Väluka. The fourth foot of the stanza is unintelligible. The following portion in prose speaks of the battle fought during the sovereignty of Mahäräjädhirājapati Paramesvara Paramamahēsvara Gopala. It seems to state further that Götinōduna, son of Jadēvā (Jayadeva ?), fought against Viravarman and won victory in the battle after having killed ten soldiers of the other side.
Inscription No. 7 consists of five stanzas in the Anushṭubh metre followed by the date: V.S. 1337, Chaitra-sudi 7, Friday. Verses 1-2 of the inscription speak of a hero. His name seems to be Giyaka whose father was a distinguished archer and whose sons were named Indra and Vatsa. Verse 3 says how there was a terrible battle between Viravarman and king Gopala on the bank of the river Väluka. Verses 4-5 state that Giyaka, who was devoted to his master and taught the science of archery to his sons Indra and Vatsa, died in fighting (yuddhita) after having defeated the enemies in battle and offered the glory of his victory to king Gōpāla.
1 See Ray, op. cit., pp. 882 ff. For a Mahakumåra in the Kalachuri family, see ibid., p. 800. For two Mahapradhanas appointed by a Chaulukya king, see ibid., p. 1033.
It is also possible to think the Sihada was a resident of a locality called Dhadhahou.
