Historical Significance of the Bhaturiya Inscription

Summary

This note reassesses the Bhaturiyā inscription in order to highlight its historical significance. Previous historians considered King Rājyapāla a weak ruler, but the author argues that the inscription depicts him as a powerful monarch. It records that he built a large army and launched a successful expedition that subdued Mlecchas, the people of Aṅga and Vaṅga, Kalinga, Gāṅgeya and other groupsfile:///home/oai/share/563034_compressed-243-389.pdf#:~:text=Historical%20Significance%20of%20the%20Bhaturiya,djna%20sirobhib%5B%20%7C8%2F. The note observes that the inscription praises Rājyapāla’s bravery and compares him to legendary heroes. It suggests that the king extended his influence over eastern India and played a significant role in resisting foreign incursions. By examining the style and rhetoric of the inscription, the author shows that court poets portrayed Rājyapāla as a victorious ruler. The paper concludes that the Bhaturiyā inscription challenges the view of Rājyapāla as insignificant and instead presents him as an active and formidable sovereign.