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The Raṣṭrakūtas Monarchs - B/39
the opportune. Sparing no time to invade, he and his army, defeating the feeble Rāṣṭraküṭa forces on the banks of river Narmadā, rushed to sack and burn the capital. "They ruthlessly plundered Malkhed in C. E. 971-72. Entire kingdom faced adversity; scattered corpses, bones and other parts of human bodies were visible everywhere" [Poet Puspadanta Jasahara cariu (Sk. yasodhara-carita) : C. E. 972-73].
2.7.3. Mārasimha, who did not like to jump on the bandwagon stood alone on the burning deck of the unprotected Rāṣṭrakūta cruiser. Like his father, Marasimha shone with great brilliance on the Rāṣṭrakūṭa firmament. By placing Indra-IV, (grand)son of Kṛṣṇa-III on the throne, the everfaithful Gangas tried to stop serious incursion. Mārasimha moved earth and heaven to re-establish the Rāṣṭrakūta power, but in vain. Indra-IV, very versatile in playing polo, but certainly not proficient in waging war!
2.7.4. It was Tailapa-II, who knew how to fish in troubled waters, hit the last nail on the coffin. The loyal turned foe, Tailapa, powerful duchy of Tardavāḍi, left Indra in the lurch and leapt in the dark to usurp the kingdom. Most suprisingly he directed his army towards the capital Malkhed, seized the empty throne and proclaimed himself as the new emperor. In 973-74 Tailapa extricated and resurrected his Calukya dynasty from the suzerainty of the Rāṣṭrakūṭas, without giving any room, either for Indra-IV or for Mārasimha, to recover from the sudden shock.
2.7.5. Indra and Mārasimha not withstanding coup d'etat, were forced to abandon the warfield and flee to Bankapura to find refuge in the Jaina monastery. Ajitasēnācārya advised Indra-IV to proceed to Śravanabelgola, the only place of safety under the watchful eye of Camuṇḍarāya, his pupil. Mārasimha died by voluntary starvation at the feet of his guru Ajitasinācārya, in C. E. 974.
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