200 ON ORXSSA PROPER 



but Bhoja discomfited and destroyed them, and afterwards captured many 



of their possessions and cities. 



Sri Bickermnjit or Vicramaditya, (whom some call brother, and others 

 son of Bhoj Raja, whilst other accounts state no connection,) succeeded 

 to the throne and reigned 135 years. He was master of all sciences and a 

 great magician. Having subjected the Ashta Vetala or eight demons to 

 his control, he could perform many miraculous feats, such as travelling one 

 hundred jojuns or 400 cos per day, extinguishing fire, and stopping the 

 current of water by the force of his incantations. So great was the fame of 

 his wisdom, that he was on one occasion taken up to the heaven of Indra to 

 settle a fierce dispute which had arisen amongst the Deotas respecting the 

 relative merits of two of the heavenly Choristers, named Rembha and Ur- 

 vasi. His decision in the important matter submitted to his arbitration, ob- 

 tained great applause, and the gods dismissed him with a present of the 

 famous magic throne called the Sinhasana. On returning to the " Mart y a- 

 loka," or region of mortals, much edified by what he had seen above, he be- 

 came sole and undisputed Maha Raja of the whole face of the earth, and re- 

 ceived the title of Raja Adhiraj or Supreme Raja nf Rajas- Through fear 

 of his power, the Yavanas all left the country. At last came Salivahana 

 from the Deccan, who attacked and conquered Vicramaditya, put him to 

 death, and assumed the reins of empire. From that period the sera called 

 the Sacabda prevailed, and was introduced into all the Panjis. 



I cannot pass over the above most important event in Indian history, 

 marked by the introduction of a new epoch into all the southern countries, 

 without specifying precisely how my different authorities express them- 

 selves regarding it, though unfortunately they throw no new light on the 

 question of who this mysterious personage Salivahana really was? and 

 whence he came? The extract from the Mandala Panji says, "After ma- 

 •' ny years Saca Deo Brahma Raja of Pratishthanapwra came with a large 

 "army, attacked the Maha Raja Vicramaditya, aad having conquered 



