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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA Though the line is hypermetrical, its rhythm is not in any way interfered with by the extra syllable as the accent here falls on the second long syllable. While reciting the line the existence of the first syllable is practically obliterated. From this point of view the line may also be considered to agree with the definition of Nāgavarma. Instances of the occurrence of such hypermetrical syllable are found in some of the literary works. The following is a couplet by Pampa (941 A. C.)[1] :
The whole verse contains thirteen such couplets. The first foot of the second line of every couplet has one extra syllable at the beginning, the accent falling on the subsequent long syllable. Similarly Kumudēndu (c. 1275 A. C.) has composed a ragaḷe comprising 49 such couplets.[2] The following is a sample :
It is thus clear that the composer of our inscription attached more importance to the rhythmic effect than to the rules regulating this metre ; his is a creative effort. The record is of unique value in the history of Kannaḍa metrics. The utsāha verse found here is the only one of its kind known so far in Kannaḍa literature and epigraphy. The inscription opens with a Sanskrit verse which states that to Gautama, who was renowned in the three worlds, was born Śaradvat. Śaradvat’s brother was Śantanu whose son was Kṛipa. After many kings born in the lineage of Kṛipa down to Śalya had passed away, Jayasiṁha, the crest-jewel among the Kshatriyas, is stated to be victorious, i.e., ruling. He was the abode of the goddesses of Fortune, Learning and Victory. The king is then stated to have made a gift of a piece of land situated in the vicinity of Puttūr to Mōchabbarasi as kanyādāna, i.e., gift to a damsel. The land which was barren and rocky was converted into fertile field by Mōchabbarasi. She constructed a house, laid a garden and had a moat dug around the place. After the usual imprecation on those who attempt to destroy the charity, the record ends with a statement to the effect that the right of succession to the ownership of the land should devolve on the female children in the lineage of the excellent Jōgavve and not on the male offspring ; and that in case there were no female issues the right will pass to the male children. We have no means of ascertaining the family to which the chief Jayasiṁha, the donor of the grant, belonged or the exact period of his rule. The fact that he does not bear any title indicative of paramountoy would point to the conclusion that he was a local chief. However, we know of a ruler named Jayasiṅgarasa whose inscription is found at Kariangaḷa (Ammuṇaje) near Mangalore.[3] He bears the titles Sōmakulatilaka, Pāṇḍya-Mahārājādhirāja, Paramēśvara and Paramabhaṭṭāraka. As these titles are usually associated with the later Āḷupas, the chief Jayasiṅgarasa of the record has been taken no be a scion of this family though the record in question does not specifically call _________________________________________________
[1] Pampa-Bharata, I-58. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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