South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

(V. 6) (He is) Indra in causing a rift (in enemy ranks).^[1] a blazing fire in brilliance, amiable, a very Brāhmana in point of noble behavior, deemed praiseworthy, one who has gained authority and excellence,^[2] whose sight inspires joy in (the hearts of) good people and brings to fruition the merit and desires of the common folk, to whom gifts of gold are presented at the time when be occupies the sacrificial seat for (performing) a sacrifice,^[3] and who is always respected by worthy persons.

(V. 7) Like a gigantic celestial elephant,^[4] he pulled down and tore asunder a multitude of resounding trees (in the form) of overweening foes and had all the quarters thickly strewn over with them. A king capable of such a feat exercises complete sovereignty over the whole world, ensuring righteousness, prosperity and happiness.^[5]

(V. 8) In prowess equal to the Lord of gods is the illustrious king Bharata, a paragon of rulers, who, having slain the enemy hosts, bore their Fortune on his own arms as she approached him. (l. 25) The only one,^[6]─

(V. 9)─who is, as it were, the Ganges herself, from heaven descended, purifying the people here, possessing the water (in the form) of character pure and brilliant as crystal, with its serene flow bounded within the two banks of self-restraint and self-discipline, ripply with many virtues such as equanimity,

(V. 10) ─royal consort of the king Bharatabala of the glory comparable to shining moonbeams is Lökaprakāśā, the lady par excellence,who born in Kōsalā, carrying the high renown of (being of) a divine origin, ever intensely zealous upon righteousness, prosperity and happiness,^[7] has attained to a sublime status by virtue of her having sons and grandsons, who are champions of justice and discipline, (and would-be)foremost king.

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^[1]I am not certain of this rendering. See above, p. 141, n. 1.
^[2] The long compound expression sad-vṛitta-shtiti-vipra-mandra-vidhṛita-prāpta-pramāṇ-ōnnatiḥ is amenable to other interpretations as well, which may be quite different from the one given above, but, the description being more laudatory then factual, it matters little in whatever sense it is construed.
^[3]It was of course a custom that a sacrificing king received rich presents from his friends and feudatories. In this connection, the case of Yudhishṭhira celebrating the Rājasūya sacrifice may be recalled when such tributes poured in in a regular stream, so much so that a special steward was appointed in the person of Duryōdhana to take charge of them, while his cousins and some of his brothers were posted likewise to look after other affairs of the ceremony. The kings who attended the grand ceremonial vied with one another in presenting Yudhishṭhira with costly gifts. We read the following in the Mahābhārata, II (Sabhāparvan), Chapter 30 (the reference being to the Southern Recession, P. P. S. Sastri’s edition) :─

Tē rai digbhyaḥ samāpētuḥ pārthirās=tatra Bhārata samādāya mahārhāṇi ratnāni viridhāni cha 21 || . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bahu vittaṁ samādāya viridhāḥ pārthivā yayuḥ | drashṭukāmāḥ sabhāṁ ch=aiva Dharmarājaṁ cha Pāṇḍavam || 23|| . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duryōdhanas=tv=arhaṇāni pratijagrāha sarvaśaḥ || 63 || . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathaṁ tu mama Kauravyō ratna-dānaiḥ samāpnuyāt | yajñam=ity=ēva rājānaḥ spardhamānā dadur=dhanam || 67 ||

^[4] This refers to one of the eight mythical elephants, guarding the eight quarters or cardinal point, in the space. Their names are Airāvata, Puṇḍarīka, Vāmana, Kumuda, Añjana Pushpadanta, Sārvabhauma and Supratīka.
^[5] See above, p. 141, n. 6.
^[6] This goes with the ‘ royal consort’ in verse 10. See above,p. 141, n.8.
^[7] See above, p. 141, n. 13.