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The miseries of the masses were further augmented by natural calamities and the Valley witnessed one of its worst famines in 917-18 A.D. Thousands died 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, V, 327-37, 452. 2. Ibid., I, V, 267-68. (Stein's note). 3. Ibid., I, V, 269.

217 for want of food and prices rose sky-high, one nal khari of rice selling for a thousand dinars. lala The corpses were thrown into the Jhelum (Vitasta); the entire land was laid waste and parched bones covered the open spaces making the country look like a huge burial-ground. Meanwhile, the officials, aided and abetted by the Tantrins, acquired, accumulated and sold grains (rice) from the royal stores at phenomenal prices and amassed wealth at the cost of 3 the people. Amid such conditions the king (really the regent Nirjitavarman) often elevated such persons to ministership who could meet the bills of demand 4 (hundika) of the Tantrins. The regent, it appears, was seeking his own comforts and Partha was a helpless onlooker. He seems to have made several attempts to gain control but was defeated in these by his pleasure-seeking regent-father. 5 The situation worsened gradually because of court intrigues. Nirjitavarman the cripple had contracted matrimony with Meruvardhana's daughter and this had increased the power and hold of Meruvardhana's sons. Nirjitavarman's two queens, Bappatadevi and Mrigavati (daughter of Meruvardhana) exercised 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, V, 271. 2. Ibid., I, V, 273. 3. Ibid., I, V, 274. 4. Ibid., I, V, 275, 279-80. 5. Ibid., I, V, 280. 6. Ibid., I, V, 282-84.

218 their feminine charms on one Sugandhaditya (probably a leader of the Tantrins) to secure the throne for 1 their issues. Amid such chaotic conditions, Partha was overthrown by Nirjitavarman with the support of the Tantrins and the latter was installed as fullfledged king in 921 A.D. He Partha was really a victim of the circumstances and it was not possible for him to assert himself against his scheming father and the Tantrins. tried to gain control but was, each time, unsuccessful. Even after he had gained maturity, he was unable to cope with the crafty Meruvardhana's sons and the Tantrins, at whose activities Nirjitavarman connived. Thus his rule ended in a failure, but he' was, however, destined to come to the throne a 2 second time later.