332 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal [Sept., 1914. 



(Magadha) 1 , leaving the rear exposed to the attacks of his 

 enemies. Hence it is that Murari Pandit, the author of the 

 Anargha Raghava, who flourished about this period, goes so 

 far as to say that Gampa was the capital of Gauda. 2 We are 

 not aware from any other source that Campa wa^ ever the 

 capital of Gauda, but there can not be any doubt that all 

 along it maintained its importance and supremacy as a town. 



It appears therefore from the inscriptions of the 11th 

 century and the Harihara inscription of Jagadekamalla II of 

 the 12th century, that the eastern kingdoms of Northern India 

 including Ariga were peculiarly exposed to invasions from the 

 Deccan, the object of the invaders being plunder and exaction 

 of tributes; but they likewise prove the declining powers and 

 weakness of these kingdoms. The frequent inroads took 

 away their vitality and left them prostrate : thus paving the 

 way for the easy conquest of the Mahomedans and the 

 establishment of their dominion at the latter end of the 12th 

 century. The ethical bond of Buddhism was gone, giving rise 

 to sacerdotal influence without that sense of duty which 

 individuals owed to each other and to society, and the result 

 was disunion, rupture, sects and social disorder. The Palas 

 were Buddhists and the Senas were of the Brahminical faith. 

 So it was easy for the Mahomedans to walk over and conquer 

 the country. The last king of Bengal was Laksmana Sena, 

 and the last of the Pala Kings who was conquered by Bakh- 

 tiyar Khiliji, as may be inferred from epigraphical evidence, 

 was Govinda Pala who, according to his Gaya inscription, 

 ascended the throne in ad. 1161. 3 But Dr. Buchanan say- 

 that Indradyumna was the last monarch of the Pala dynasty, 

 who being unable to contend with the Mahomedans retired 

 with his army and family to Jagannath.* General Cunning- 

 ham, however, is of opinion that he retired to Javanagar near 

 Kiyul after he was defeated by Makhdum Maulana Nur, a 

 general under Bakhtiyar Khiliji. 6 



1 Ibid., v. 5. 



» Act VII, 124, p. 312: « w _^ ^ g^r^r^tsf^ jwvmw* 



TT^rei^t i f ' 



8 Arch. S. Rep., xv, p. 155. 



* Martin: East. Ind.< ii, p. 23. 



* Arch. 8. Rep., in, 159. 



