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NOVEMBER, 1876.]
Vengi, had taken possession of the throne of Kanchi.t
MISCELLANEA.
Vikrama at once prepared himself to march against the usurper; but the latter, in order to save his newly acquired throne, asked Somadeva of Kalyana to make an alliance with him against their common enemy. Somesvara, thinking that a favourable opportunity to destroy his hated brother had been found, eagerly accepted Rajiga's offer, though the hereditary enmity between the Cholas and the Chalukyas ought-at least in Bilhana's opinion-to have prevented such a step. He watched Vikrama's movements, and followed him so closely on his march to the south, that when Rajiga's army had at last been reached by Vikrama, Someávara's forces were encamped not far off in his rear. When Vikrama became aware of the hostile intentions of his brother, he was deeply distressed, being averse to a fratricidal war. He sent friendly messages to Somesvara and made attempts at a reconciliation. Someévara apparently accepted his brother's advances; but in reality he meditated treachery, soiling the fair name of his race. He only temporized, in order to find a favourable moment for striking a deadly blow. Even when Vikrama became aware of this, he was still unwilling to encounter his brother on the battle-field. It was only at the express command of Siva, who, appearing to him in a dream, ordered him to fulfil his destiny and to become a great ruler, that he consented to an appeal to arms. On the morning
The mistake in the text (v. 26) for caused by my consulting Prof. H. H. Wilson's Cat. Mackenzie Coil. before my attention was drawn to Sir W. Elliot's second article on the Chalukyas in the Jourl. Madras L. & Sc. Soc. vol. VII. That paper not only shows that Vengi is the correct reading, but affords also the key to this portion of Bilhana's narrative. Sir W. Elliot shows that a branch of the Cholas had established itself in Vengidesa, the eastern coast between the Krishna and the Godavari, and had extended its conquests thence to the frontiers of Katak (Cuttack). This kingdom passed by marriage to Rajendra Chola. "He was succeeded by his son Vikramadeva, Kulottunga Chola. On the death of his uncle Vijayaditya, who had been viceroy of Vengidesa, the king deputed his son Rajaraja to assume the office; but, after holding it, for one year, A.D. 1078 he resigned it in favour of his younger brother Viradeva Chola, who assumed the title of Kulottunga Chola. His grants are found in great numbers from A.D. 1079 up to the year 1135, when a partial restoration of the Chalukya line appears to have taken place." I think there can be no doubt that Bilhana's Rajiga is the Rajaraja of the inscriptions, as the former name appears to be only a popular corruption of the latter, and as the time when they are said to have ruled over Vengi is nearly the same. If this identification is correct, it follows that the Chola king whose daughter Vikramaditya married was Vikramadeva Kulottunga and that the Chola prince whom Vikramaditya established on the throne was a brother of Rajarija-Rajiga. Probably the interference of the Châlnkya prince was the cause of his protégé's losing his throne and his life.
was
Bilhana, in uttering this sentiment, forgets that a short time previous his hero had formed a matrimonial alliance with the same Chola race.
321
after the vision had appeared, a hard-contested battle was fought, in which the victory finally remained with Vikrama. Râjiga fled, and Somesvara was taken prisoner.
Immediately after the battle Vikrama returned to the Tungabhadra. He at first intended to restore his captive brother to liberty and to the throne. But Siva interposed a second time, and angrily commanded him to assume the sovereignty. Then Vikrama obeyed the order of the god, and allowed himself to be proclaimed ruler of the Dekhan.§
To his youngest brother, Jay a simha, Vikrama gave the office of viceroy of Van a vâs a.|| Shortly afterwards he made further expeditions, by which he subdued everybody and everything in the four quarters of the universe, excepting only the elephants that guard the points of the horizon. Against whom these wars were waged is not stated. But when the multitude of the kings. had been exhausted,' Vikrama once more had to' extinguish' the Chola. Then only he entered
his capital of Kalyana.*
The time of Vikrama's arrival in Kalyana fell in spring, the season of pleasure and love. The king also was destined to undergo its influence. and to become a slave to the gentle passion. He learnt that the Sila hâra prince, ruling over Karahâța, possessed a daughter, Chandralekha or Chandaladevi by name, who, being endowed with marvellous beauty, was by the order of Pârvati to hold a svayamvara. The minute inventory of the princess' charms, beginning with her toe-nails
§ VI. 26-99.-According to the inscriptions (Jour. R. A. Soc. vol. IV. p. 14) this battle was fought in 1076. The inscriptions contain also the same statements regarding Somevara-Bhuvanaikanalla's character, though no mention is made of the circumstance that the latter was aided by the Chola king in the battle which cost him the throne. It is. however, doubtful if Vikrama. in acquiring the throne of Kalyana, was merely a victim of destiny, as Bilhana wishes to make out. It looks very suspicious that the poet find himself obliged to bring in Siva three times in order to vindicate the course of action taken by his hero. Vikrama's alliances with the Kadamba Jayakeśi and the Chola seem also to indicate that he, on his side, was preparing himself for coming events, or had far-reaching designs. Lastly. what one sees and hears now of Rajput life makes one cautious in believing that one brother should have dethroned the other merely through the latter's fault. There are, no doubt. touching instances of strong family affection in Rajput families. But in general a great amount of jealousy and dissension prevails, caused partly by the system of polygamy, which among the Rajputs is de rigueur as a matter of etiquette, and partly by the uncurbed ambition of these races. Considering all these points, I am inclined to give the verdict against Vikrama and Bilhana. and to assume that the former designedly used his superior talents to oust his weaker brother.
VI. 99 compare also XIV. 4.
Possibly, by the "multitude of kings" (naranatha. chakra) whom Vikrama subdued, rebellious sámantas or feudal chiefs may have to be understood. The statement that he had again to fight the Chola detracts from the magnitude of his former victory.
* VII. 1-2.
