THE PALAS OF BENGAL. 103 



Taking advantage of the internal dissensions in the Pala Kingdom, Vijayasena 

 seems to have strengthened himself in Eastern and Western Bengal, and when the 



weakness of the Palas under Madanapala became apparent, 

 onqU y ar g n( j ra ou ern he invaded Northern Bengal and succeeded in wresting the 



southern part of Varendra. Madanapaladeva seems to have 

 continued to hold the northern part of Varendra, as his Manahali Grant was issued in 

 the 8th year of his reign from the royal city of Ramavati. 1 



We learn from the Deopara inscription that Vijayasena attacked the King of 

 Gauda with great force: — 



Tvam Nanya-Vlra-vijay-lti girah kavlnam $vutva$-ny athd-manana-r u dha-nigudha 

 rosah i Gaudendram-adravad-apakrta Kdmarupabhupam Kalingam-api yas-tarasa 

 jigaya. v. 20.' 2 



Most probably Madanapala is the Gaudendra mentioned in the verse quoted 



above. It is stated in the Deopara inscription that Vijayasena defeated and 



Conquest of Northern imprisoned the King of Mithila named Nanyadeva, so most 



Varendra. probably Vijayasena conquered the remaining portion of 



Varendra before he turned his attention towards the neighbouring district of Mithila. 



Vijayasena invades Madanapala 's dominions were confined to the limits of Maga- 



Magadha. ^ a a ft er xfo[ s _ Vijayasena did not remain content with 



Varendra. He despatched a flotilla of armed boats for the conquest of the Western 



regions. 



PaScatya-cakra-jayakelisu yasya yavad-Gamga-pravdham-anudhavati nauvitane 

 Bharggasya mauli-sarid-ambhasi bhasma-pahka-lagn-ojjhit-eva tarir-indu kald 

 cakasti. v. 22. 3 



But the expedition does not seem to have been very successful, as otherwise the 

 incident would surely have been mentioned in Sena inscriptions. Madanpaladeva 

 was greatly assisted in his war against Vijayasena by Candradeva, the founder of 

 the Gahadavala Dynasty of Kanauj . The author of the Ramacarita has gratefully 

 acknowledged this in his work : — 



Simhl-suta-vikranten-arj'juna-dhamna bhuvah pradipena I Kamald-vikd&a-vesaja 



visaja Candrena vandhunopetam \\ 20. Candl-carana-saroja-prasada-sampanna- 



vigraha-^rlkam 1 Na khalu Madanam s-ange§am-i$am agad jagad-vijayalaksmlh 



v. 21. + 



Madanapala seems to have been defeated by Vijayasena some time after the 



year 1108 a.d., which is the probable date of his Manahali inscription, when 



Candradeva was dead. Candradeva must have died before 1104 a.d., as in that 



year the Basahi Plates of his grandson Govinda-Candra were issued, and that prince 



is styled " Maharajaputra " , so it must be admitted that Candradeva had ceased to 



reign at that time, and his son Madanpala sat on the throne. 6 



I J.AS.B., 1900, Pt. I, p. 93. 2 Bpi. Ind., Vol. I, p. 306. 3 Ibid., p. 307. 



* Mem. A S.B., Vol. Ill, p. 307. 6 i n d Ant., Vol. XIV, p. 103. 



