North Indian Inscriptions

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS

as his, and the last two (i.e., Āśvina and Kārtika) which constitute the Śarad season would thenceforth be assigned to Kṛishṇa. As soon as the first half ended, that is, doubtless, on the first of the bright half of Āśvina, we are informed, the people shall erect flag-crowned poles with the effigies of Mahēndra and Upēndra and do worship in pursuance of the customary rites of the two gods.¹ The Pūjā festival is celebrated all over India, but with different motives in different parts of the country. And the explanation set forth by the Harivaṁśa represents one such motive. The whole question has been discussed in greater detail in the Introduction, page 127.

TEXT

[Metre : Anushṭubh throughout]

First Fragment

1 [S*]iddham [|*] Sahasra-śirasē tasmai Purushāy=āmit-ātmanē [|*] chatus-samudra-paryyaṅka-tōya-nidrālavē namaḥ [|| 1*] Śrīr=mMā(Mā)²lava-gaṇ-āmnātē praśastē Kṛita-saṁjñitē [|*]
2 ēka-shashṭy-adhikē prāptē samā-śata-chatushṭayē [|| 2*] Prāvṛik-kālē³ śubhē prāptē manas-tushṭ[i]karē nṛiṇām [|*] maghē⁴ pravṛittē Śakkrasya Kṛishṇasy=ānumatē tadā [|| 3*]
3 Nishpanna-vrīhi-yavasā kāśa-pushpair=alaṁkṛitā [| *] bhābhir=abhyadhikaṁ bhāti mēdinī sasya-mālinī [|| 4*] Dinē Āśvōja-śuklasya paṁchamyām=atha satkṛitē [|*]
4 īdṛik-kāla-varē ramyē praśāsati vasundharām [|| 5*] Prāk-puṇy-ōpachay-ābhyāsāt= saṁvarddhita-manōrathē [|*] Jayavarmma-narēndrasya pautrē Dēvēndra- vikramē [|| 6*]
5 Kshit-īśē Siṅhavarmmaṇas=Siṅha-vikrānta-gāmini [|*] satpurē śrīr=mma(ma)-⁵ hārāja-Naravarmmaṇi pārtthivē [|| 7*] Tat-pālana-guṇ-ōddēśad=dharma- prāpty-arttha vistaraḥ [|*]
6 pūrvva-janm-āntar-ābhyāsād=balād=ākshipta-mānasah [|| 8*] Sva-yaśaḥ-puṇya- saṁbhāra-vivarddhita-kṛit-ōdyamaḥ [|*] mṛiga-tṛishṇā-jala-svapna-viddud⁶-dīpa- śikh-āchalam [|| 9*]
7 Jīva-lōkam=imaṁ jñātvā śaraṇyaṁ śaraṇaṅ=gataḥ [|*] tridaś-ōdāra-phaladaṁ svargga-strī-chāru-pallavam [|| 10*] Vimān-ānēka-viṭapaṁ tōyad-āṁbu-madhu- srāvam⁷ [|*]
8 Vāsudēvaṁ jagad-vāsam=apramēyam=ajaṁ vibhum [|| 11*] Mitra-bhṛity- ārtta-satkarttā sva-kulasy=atha⁸ chandramāḥ [|*] yasya vittaṁ cha prāṇāś=cha dēva-brāhmaṇa-sāgat[āḥ*]⁹ [|| 12*]
9 Mahā[kāru]ṇikaḥ Satyō dharmm-ārjjita-mahādhanaḥ [|*] satputrō Varṇṇavṛiddhēs= tu satpautrō=tha Jayasya vai [|| 13*] Duhitur=Balaśūrāyā[ḥ*] satputrō Jayamitrayā [|*]
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¹ For another explanation, see Varāhamihira’s Bṛihatsaṁhitā, chap. 43.
² [See, p. 262, note 1 above.–Ed.].
³ Read Prāvṛiṭ-kālē.
⁴ Read mahē. Sten Konow’s reading mēghē pravṛittē is unwarranted by impressions and does not also suit the sense.
⁵ [See p. 262 note 1 above–Ed.].
⁶ Read –vidyud-.
⁷ Read –sravam.
⁸ Read =ātha.
⁹ It is more natural to correct it into -brāhmaṇasādgatāḥ than -brāhmaṇasātkṛitāḥ as Haraprasad Sastri has done.