Rajyavardhana succeeded the throne on the death of his father, Prabhakaravardhana, but was so overcome with grief that he decided to abdicate in favour of his brother, Harshavardhana.
However, that was not to be, as his sister Rajyasri, married to Grahavarman of the Maukharis, was taken a prisoner by the Malwa King Deva Gupta after the death of her husband.
Leaving Harsha in charge of the administration, Rajyavardhana defeated the king of Malwa and while on his way to free Rajyasri from captivity in Kanauj was treacherously murdered by Sasanka, king of Gauda.
It is stated by Sankara in a commentary on Harshacharita written in the fourteenth century that Sasanka “allured Rajyavardhana to his camp with a promise of giving his daughter in marriage to him.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Rajyavardhana, while enjoying a feast there along with his attendants, was murdered by Sasanka in disguise.”