Before 1970, nothing was known about the three Pala kings (Mahendrapala, Shurapala I and Gopala II) who ruled in between Devapala and Vigrahapala I.
Plenty of references, on images, in temples, other stone inscriptions as well as various manuscripts were found, but these were wrongly assigned to times of other kings.
[4] In Badal village of Dinajpur district, Bangladesh (now in Dhamoirhat sub-district of Naogaon District), there is a pillar called Garuḍa Stambha (colloquially, Bhimer Panti [bn]), which contains an inscription of Guravamishra, who had served as Prime Minister to the Pala king Narayanapala.
Chronology could not be adjusted within the existing framework of the total Pala period, the 18th regnal year of Madanapala being known to be 1083 Saka (1161 C.E.)
from the Balgudar Narayana image inscription;[8] so Rajat Sanyal back-pushed the starting year of Gopala I (the first Pala king) from 750 C.E.