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Soon after, a change came over in the nature of Kalasa and he started acting like a tyrant? He 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 612. 3. 4. 2. Ibid., I, vii, 613 ff. Ibid., I, vii, 627-28. Ibid., I, vii, 635, 641-50. 5. Ibid., I, vii, 675, 677. 6. Ibid., I, vii, 681-87. 7. Ibid., I, vii, 695.

328 began despoiling temples and Viharas of their valuable metallic images of gods and goddesses and, casting all considerations of propriety and legality to four winds, he began confiscating possessions of 'deceased persons without any consideration? At the same time, his licentious habits were taking a heavy toll of his energies and he was soon nearing his end? It is admitted by Kalhana that Kalasa, when his end was near, was, at first, inclined to bestow the crown' on Harsha? His proposal, however, did not find favour with the council of his ministers who favoured Utkarsha instead. Utkarsha, as noted above, was ruling over Lohara and hastened to the capital at the command of the dying king. Although Kalhana does not throw any hint, yet it is plainly obvious that, ever since Harsha's imprisonment, Utkarsha had been secretly wooing the responsible members of the ministerial council and won them over to his side. The ailing monarch still cherished kind thoughts towards Harsha and, sensing 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 696-97. 2. Ibid., I, vii, 698-702. 3. Ibid., I, vii, 703. 4. Ibid.

-329 that his (Harsha's) life was in jeopardy, wanted to send him away to some distant land with sufficient wealth But the ministers would not let him do so and, as a further precaution against his escape, stationed Thakkura guards from Lohara who were trusted men of Utkarsha? Thus Harsha was placed in the hands of the latter and even the dying king could not see him in his last days.