North Indian Inscriptions

NALLUR GRANT OF HARIHARA II.

......(V. 10.) In consequence of (his) numerous good deeds (in former births), this glorious king Saṁgama begat a son, the glorious king Vîra-Bhu[k]ka, who was an auspicious mirror to the goddess of heroes.¹

......(V. 11.) People identify this king Bhukka with Śiva, devoid of terrible surnames, as he is slow of fire (i.e. anger) (and) not surrounded by dissolute friends (bhujaṁga), [while Śiva is quick of fire and adorned with serpents (bhujaṁga)].

......(V. 12.) The sporting goddess of his fame (had) the mundane egg for a jewelled hall, the Moon for a parasol (set with) pearls, and Venus and the Sun for a (double) lamp.

......(V. 13.) While that glorious king Vîra-Bhukka was righteously protecting the earth, the people, unafflicted by calamities, were continually enjoying festivals.

......(V. 14.) From this great lord (mahêśvara), who was the husband of Gaurî, was born the lord Harihara, a king who was renowned by (his) power (śakti), (and) who was a partial incarnation of Skanda.²

......(V. 15.) While this (king) was engaged in upholding the observances of all the castes and orders, the earth up to the four oceans became the celestial cow (in fulfilling all desires).

......(V. 16.) The ten directions are illumined by the fame of him who is seated on the throne, as by the light of the full-moon who is standing over the eastern mountain.

......(V. 17.) Having taken away the wealth of rival kings (as suddenly) as a falling thunderbolt, (he) performed the sixteen great gifts, viz. the gift of his weight (in gold), etc.

......(V. 38.) This glorious Vîrapratâpa-Hariharadêva-Mahârâya, who was adorned by a series of such birudas as :— The illustrious king of kings and the supreme lord of kings ; the lord of the eastern, southern, western and northern oceans ; the unopposed ; a Vainatêya (i.e. Guruḍa) to the snakes (which are) wicked kings and princes ; an adamantine cage for refugees ; the Dharma (i.e. Yudhishṭhira) of the Kali age ; the ear-ornament to the goddess of the Karṇâṭaka (country) ; the supporter of the four castes and orders ; he whose proclamations are engraved on the slopes of the principal mountains ; he who is formidable on battle-fields ; the moon to the day-lotuses (which are) hostile kings ; a brother to the wives of others ; he whose (only) delight is the fame of virtue ; the destroyer of the pride of the Tiger ;³ the master in establishing the Chêra, Chôḷa, and Pâṇḍya (kings) ; the publisher of the commentaries on the Vêdas ; the master in establishing the ordinances prescribed by the Vêdas ; he who has provided the Adhvaryu (priests) with employment ; the auspicious ornament of kings ; he whose eloquence is well-known ;—

......(Verse 18.) After the auspicious Śâlivâha Śâka (year) measured by the earth (1), the eyes (2), the qualities (3), (and) the moon (1), (i.e. 1321), had passed, . . . . . . . .⁴ in the (cyclic year) Pramâdin, in the month called Ûrjaka (Kârttika), in the bright fortnight of this (month), on Wednesday, the holy full-moon tithi, at the lucky time of an auspicious (and) excellent eclipse of the moon ;—

......(V. 19.) At the city (nagara) called Vijaya (i.e. Vijayanagara), whose moat is the holy Tuṅgabhadrâ, at Pampâ, at the Bhâskara-kshêtra, in the presence of (the god) Śri-Virûpâksha ;‒⁵
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......¹ The mirror is one of the eight auspicious objects (ashṭa-maṅgala). In saying that Bukka was an “auspicious mirror” to the goddess of heroes, the composer probably meant that the king was a special favourite of the goddess.
......² The god Skanda is the son of Mahêśvara (Śiva) and Gaurî, and bears a appear (śakti).
......³ The tiger was the emblem of the Chôḷa kings.
......⁴ The unintelligible syllables are left untranslated ; see p.119 above.
......⁵ The construction is here interrupted by verses 20 to 24. The verb follows in verse 29.