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102
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
This episode reminds us that by that time Bhoja must have been much tired by his constant warfare with his neighbouring kings. He might have become old too, perhaps more than 64 years old.
His two enemies Bhima of Anahillapāțan and Kalacūri Karna were getting restive. Bhoja, however, had to play his lost drama with them. The rivalry between Bhima and Bhoja was not merely political, it was cultural too. Many anecdotes preserved in the Prabandha-cintāmaņi as well as the Purātana Prabandha-sangraha relate several events which reveal the state of affairs fairly.
Bhima attempted to kill Bhoja several times. Merutunga records that at one time when Bhoja was worshipping his family goddess in a temple in the suburb of Dhārā, he was surprised and nearly captured by a party of Gujarāta cavalry.
At last with Karņa of Dähala and the Cālukya Someśvara, Bhima formed a confederacy to kill Bhoja and in it he succeeded at last. Bhima allured Karna, having promised him the half of Bhoja's kingdom.
Thus Prabandha-cintamani in a different version relates a story. It runs thus:
"Karna feeling jealous of Bhoja's fame and other paraphernalia demanded either war or acceptance of his supremacy by Bhoja. But Bhoja, being afraid of breaking his promise, remained silent. Then Karņa set out with 137 kings to make war on Bhoja and at the same time he invited Bhima to attack Mālava in the rear, promising him the half of Bhoja's kingdom. Then king Bhoja being attacked by those two kings, lost his pride, as a snake, overcome with a charm, loses its poison. And then a sudden malady took hold of Bhoja. Nobody was allowed to enter the door of Bhoja's fort. The king Bhima sent his servant to his own diplomatic agent Dâmara in order to ascertain the condition of Bhoja.” When
3 [ Contd.] क्रियमाणः श्रीभोजराजा दामरमभ्यधात्। अस्मिन्वर्षे त्वया स्वस्वामी कथञ्चनापीहागच्छन्निवार्य इति.. ..हस्तिनीसहितं हस्तिनमुपायने उपादाय पत्तने श्रीभीमं परितोषयामास।
1 Ibid., p. 48: 373991 997: 1
2 Ibid., pp. 49-50: ft ign: Af fari afa ETIT S UTEI .... 27भोज दूतमुखेन निमंत्रयामास। ततः स्वप्रतिज्ञाभङ्गभीरुलिवमण्डलप्रभुस्तथा प्रयातुम् प्रभूष्णुस्तूष्णीAratzi .... Forfataista : STT: 717771 aft7 ftभोजराज्यार्द्ध प्रतिश्रुत्य मालवमण्डलपाणिघाताय निस्सीमतदीयनगरे श्रीकर्णः श्रीभीममजूहवत् । अथ
[Contd.)
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