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THE DYNASTIES OF CENTRAL INDIA
matic agent Damara to this effect." It is further narrated that Damara diverted the attentions of Bhoja from Gujarāta by getting a drama performed in which Muñja's death at the hands of Tailapa II was staged. In this act a certain angry king tried to make Tailapa, who had secured himself a comfortable corner in the prison, get up. Tailapa replies "I have an ancestral holding here. Why should I leave my own home at the bidding of a new-comer like you?" At first sight Bhoja was pleased with the flattery and praised Damara for which he received from him a prompt reply-King, the display of wit is, no doubt, extraordinary, but for the ignorance that this actor shows with regard to the history of the hero of the tale, for this mighty king Tailapadeva is recognized by having the head of the king Muñja fixed on a stake'. Thus stung by his sarcasm Bhoja gave up the intention of invading Gujarāta and invaded Karnataka."
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This story, however, has little factual value. Moreover, there is no in - scriptional evidence to confirm it. Merutunga, on the other hand, informs us that Bhoja did not actually invade the Deccan in hot haste. He says:
"Hearing that a very strong force was coming under the banner of Tailapa Bhoja became very much perturbed and at this juncture Damara came to him and showing him a forged rescript from his king informed Bhoja that Bhima had reached Bhogapura. This news perplexed him more. It was to him like the sprinkling of salt on a wound. Bhoja entreatingly asked Damara "You must, by hook or by crook, prevent your master from coming here during the current year". Bhoja presented him a male and a female elephants to appease Bhima."
1 SJGM., I, p. 30 : अथ कस्मिन्नपि संवत्सरे अनुष्ठिभावात् कणतृणानामप्राप्तया दुःस्थे देशे स्थानपुरुषैभजागमं ज्ञापितः श्री भीमश्चिन्ताप्रपन्नो दामरनामानं सन्धिविग्रहिकमादिशत् । यत्किमपि दण्डं दत्वास्मिन्वर्षे श्रीभोज इहागच्छन्निवारणीयः ।
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2 Ibid., p. 31: दापनादनु समस्तराजविडम्बन नाटकेऽभिनीयमाने सकोप : कोsपि भूपः कारागारमन्तरा पुरः स्थितं सुस्थितं तैलपं तेनोचे अहमिहान्वयवासी कथमागन्तुक भवहायसा .... निजं पदमुज्झामि इति विहस्य नृपो दामरं प्रति नाटकरसावतारं प्रशंसस्तेनाभिदधे — देव अतिशयिन्यपि रसावतारे धिग्नटस्य कथानायकवृत्तान्तानभिहताम् । यथा श्रीतेलपदेवराजा शलिकाप्रोतमुजराजशिरसा प्रतीयते इति । तदैव तिलङ्गदेशं प्रति प्रयाणमकरोत् ।
3 अथ तैलपदेवस्यातिबलमायान्तमाकर्ण्य व्याकुलं श्रीभोजं स दामर : समायातकल्पितराजादेशदर्शनपूर्वं भोगपुरे श्रीभीमं समायातं विज्ञापयामास । तया तद्वर्त्तया क्षते क्षारनिक्षेपसदृक्षया विलक्षी3 [ Contd.]
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