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148
POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
in the Purātana-prabandha
A romantic story is narrated about him sangraha which runs as follows:
Lakhana (Lakşmana) migrated from his ancesral home in search of a new dominion. It states that: Lakhana went abroad to earn his livelihood with his wife and a servant of low caste. On his way he took rest in a temple at Naddulapura. He killed at night, some of the men of Meda tribe who used to create trouble in that locality. He was established there by the people whom he had protected and thus he, by his influence, carved out a principality around it. He married there a daughter of a rich mercant. The sons born from her were classed as merchants and the sons born from his former wife were classed as Ksatriyas.
This statement of the Prabandha is strikingly corroborated by an inscription on the Suraj-pol at Nadol, which is reported to have been erected by him, contains his name, showing the authenticity of the tradition that he really established himself in that town. The fort of Nadol, which bears his name and which is said to have been constructed by him, also connects him with Naçdūla. Two records have been referred to by Tod which give us his dates as V.E. 1024 (c. 967 A.D.) and 1039 (c. 982 A.D.). No political event of his reign has been recorded by the Jain sources.
Sobhita: Laksmana had two sons. One was Sobhita or Sohiya, adorned with all the qualities and best among the kings and the other was Vigrahapāla according to the Jain copper plate from Nadol. The Sundhā hill record states that he had taken away the glory of the Lord of Himädribhāva (i.e., Mt. Abū). We know that the Paramāras of Candrāvati were ruling over the region of Abu at that time. In my opinion the king of Abu may have been the successor of Adbhuta-Krşnarāja I, whose known date is V.E. 1024 (967 A.D.). He may be the contemporary of Lakşmaņa, the father of Sobhita.
Baliraja: Sobhita was succeeded by his son Balirāja, who was an abode of depth and patience according to the Sundhả hill inscription. The same authority credits him a victory over the army of Muñjarāja, undoubtedly
i SjGM., II, pp. 101-2. 2 DHNI., II, p. 1105. 3 EI., XI, p. 66 ff., V. 2. * Ibid., XI, pp. 76-77, V. 7.
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