similar reason we do not find the name of Rājyapāla, the eldest son of Rāmapāla, who could not have reigned as he died in his father's lifetime:—
Vigrahapāla III
Mahīpāla II
Śūrapāla
Rāmapāla
Rājyapāla (died in his father's lifetime)
Kumārapāla
Madanapāla.
Gopāla III.
The mention of Śūrapāla's accession to the throne or the recognition of his chiefship in the Pāla dominions, may have been omitted by Sandhyākaranandi, either through carelessness, or as not being relevant to his subject. It may also be possible that Śūrapāla was Rāmapāla's rival for the throne, and though he had succeeded temporarily he was overthrown in the long run and perhaps murdered at the instigation of his younger brother. Nothing is known about the extent of Śūrapāla's reign or his death. But it is quite certain that he was succeeded by his younger brother Rāmapāla. In the course of time Divvoka had died and was succeeded by his brother Rudoka. Rudoka was succeeded by his son Bhīma, who on his succession, began to harass the people, living in the tract of land, which was still left in the possession of the Pālas.[1] At that time Rāmapāla was in great straits and thought himself to be without friends.[2] But his son and his advisors sought him, and urged him to take the necessary steps, and he regained courage.[3] The author Rāmapāla is urged by his son and his friends to take the field against Bhīma. of the Rāmacarita states in another place that he became very anxious to fight with Bhīma.[4] His first step was to travel round the country to propitiate the feudatories and subordinate kings of his father's kingdom, and he succeeded in gaining over the forest feudatories.[5] During his travels he became convinced that all feudatories were well disposed towards him.[6] By giving away lands along river banks and immense wealth, Rāmapāla succeeded in obtaining horse and foot soldiers and elephants from the feudatories. Śivarāja, the son of his maternal uncle and a Mahāpratīhāra, crossed the Ganges with foot, horse and elephants and entered the He obtains aid from the feudatories and his cousin Śivarāja crosses the Ganges and enters the enemy's country. enemy's country.[7] This expedition was undertaken either to reconnoitre the enemy's position or as a sort of counter raid. Śivarāja so impetuously attacked Varendrī that the viṣayas and grāmas in Bhīma's country became distressed. Śivarāja began to enquire about the ownership of the lands so that the properties of the gods and the Brāhmaṇas might be protected.[8] He succeeded in driving away Bhīma's followers from Varendrī proper[9], and then came back to
