Describe the role of Dharmapāla in promoting Buddhism and education in eastern India.

Dharmapāla was the successor of Gopāla and expanded the Pāla empire over much of eastern and northern India. He was a great patron of Mahāyāna Buddhism. He founded Vikramaśhilā monastery in Bihar in the late 8th century, which became a major centre of learning. He also patronised Nālandā university and founded Somapura monastery in present-day Bangladesh. Under his patronage, these institutions flourished and attracted thousands of scholars, helping spread Buddhist learning and maintaining strong ties with Tibet.