South Indian Inscriptions

THE VATSAGULMA BRANCH

for the history of this Vatsagulma branch. He caused also the Ghaṭōtkacha cave at Gulwāḍā, a few miles from Ajaṇṭā, to be excavated and decorated, where he has left an inscription,¹ describing his ancestors.

...Harishēṇa is the last known king of this line. He may have been followed by one or two other princes, but even their names have not come down to us. In any case the dynasty seems to have been overthrown by circa 550 A.C. by the Kaṭachchuris or Kalachuris of Māhishmatī. The coins of Kṛishṇarāja, who heads the genealogical list in early Kalachuri grants have been found all over the country extending from Vidiśā in the north to Nāsik and Karhāḍ in the south and from Bombay in the west to the Districts of Amarāvatī and Bētul in the east. This Kalachuri king seems therefore to have reared his Empire over the ruins of the Vākāṭaka dominion. Svāmirāja whose plates dated in the Kalachuri year 322 (573-74 A.C.) were issued from Nandivardhana was probably a feudatory of the Kalachuri Kṛishṇarāja.

...The causes which led to the sudden disintegration of the mighty Vākāṭaka Empire have not been recorded in history, but Daṇḍin’s Daśakumāracharita, which was written within about a hundred and twenty-five years after the fall of the Vākāṭakas, appears to have preserved a living tradition about the last period of Vākāṭaka rule. This Sanskrit work in its last chapter called Viśrutacharita narrates the adventures of Viśruta, one of the Kumāras who were followers of Rājavāhana, son of Rājahaṁsa, the dethroned king of Magadha.²

...The narrative points to the existence of a large southern empire. The emperor ruled directly over Vidarbha which comprises the Marāṭhī-speaking districts of the former Madhya Pradēsh and the Hyderābād State. Vidarbha had a number of feudatory kingdoms, viz. Kuntala (Southern Mahārāshṭra), Aśmaka (the country on the southern bank of the Gōdāvarī), Ṛishīka (Khāndēsh), Murala (country near the Godāvarī), Nāsikya (Nāsik District) and Koṅkaṇa. The Empire thus extended from the Narmadā in the north to the Tuṅgabhadrā in the south and from the Arabian Sea in the West to at least the Waingaṅgā in the east. A young prince succeeded to this large empire after the death of his illustrious father. The prince, though intelligent and accomplished in all arts, neglected the study of the science of politics. His father’s old minister counselled him again and again to apply himself to the study of the daṇḍanīti, but he, coming under the influence of his licentious courtier, treated in all kinds of vices, neglecting the affairs of the enjoyment of pleasures and indulged in all kinds of vices, neglecting the affairs of the State. His subjects imitated him and led a vicious and dissolute life. Consequently, disorder and lawlessness became rampant in the kingdom. Finding this a suitable opportunity, the crafty ruler of the neighbouring Aśmaka country, sent his minister’s son to the court of Vidarbha. The latter ingratiated himself with the king and egged him on in his dissolute life. He also contrived to decimate his forces by various means. Ultimately, when the country was thoroughly disorganised, the ruler of Aśmaka instigated the king of Vanavāsī (modern Banavāsī in North Kānaḍā District) to invade the kingdom of Vidarbha. The latter advanced with a large force and occupied some portion of Southern Vidarbha. The young Emperor of Vidarbha then mobilised his forces and called all feudatories to his aid. Among those who rallied under his banner were besides the treacherous prince of Aśmaka, the rulers of Kuntala, Murala, Rishīka, Nāsikya and Koṅkaṇa. Aided by these feudatories, the Emperor of Vidarbha decided to give battle to the enemy on the bank of the Varadā (modern Wardhā). The ruler of Aśmaka, however, secretly conspired
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¹ No. 26.
² For a summary of the narrative and detailed discussion of the historical data furnished by it, see my article in A.B.O.R.I., Vol. XXVI, pp. 20 f.; S.I., Vol. I, pp. 165 f.