North Indian Inscriptions

SRAVANA-BELGOLA EPITAPH OF MALLISHENA.

experienced at last on approaching thee whose intellect was great, (and) the eminence of which was to be worshipped by the best of all scholars. Therefore, how (can) we describe (it) ?

......(V. 62.) “Having lost the abundance of their great pride, having forgotten the fierceness of their envy, uttering pitiable cries, (and) not knowing to which direction to turn,― the elephants, (viz.) the opponents in disputations, ah ! run away trembling at the (very) smell of the mast elephant, (viz.) the holy scholar Padmanâbha.”¹

......(V. 63.) Let him protect (us), Kumârasêna, who possessed Jaina penance which removes pain, from whom ascetics (received) both initiation and instruction, (and) whose pure life (was) an example of the path to bliss !

......(V. 64.) Let him have mercy on me, the preceptor Mallishêṇa-Maladhâridêva, the lion who split in two the mast elephant, blind with fury (viz.) Cupid, the destroyer of the dignity of people ; by whose feet crest of kings were to be adorned ; (and) whose practice of the austerities which consist of twice six (i.e. twelve) kinds,² (was as brilliant) as the rising of the sun !³

......(V. 65.) I worship that lord of sages, Maladhârin, whose heart was firmly resolved to be engaged in beating the enemy, delusion, (and) who was exceedingly resplendent with true self-restraint. Even the dirt which had collected on his body, (was) alone able to wash off the soot of the ugly impurity, which had gathered in the minds of those who bowed (before him) in the manner of manifest devotion.⁴

......(V. 66.) Let him sport in the dwelling of my mind, the king of sages, Mallishêṇa, whose lotus-feet attracted a crowd of good men, (as) a bevy of bees, (and who was) the abode of the splendour of the power of great penance, which resembled a fire for burning the ancient forest of mundane existence, filled with a mass of deep darkness !

......(V. 67.) Worthy to be worshipped is that Rôhaṇa mountain of gem-like virtues,⁵ the holy preceptor Mallishêṇa, whose body was covered with dirt in order to remove the impurity (of sin), who was poor in order (to obtain) the glory of the kingdom of all the three worlds, (who practised) penance which surpassed fire (in heat), in order to remove the great pain (of human life), (and) who purified the earth by (his) wonderfully beautiful conduct.

......(V. 68.) How should he not (create) wonder on account of (his) conduct, the holy sage Mallishêṇa, in whom unequalled forbearance delights, whom mercy violently embraces, whom impartiality loves, whom freedom from covetousness covets, (and) who, though himself a lover of final emancipation, yet (is) the foremost of ascetics ?⁶

......(V. 69.) Obeisance to that holy lord of ascetics, Maladhârin, who is worthy to be worshipped on earth, whom the good incessantly praise with eagerness, by whom Cupid’s bow was conquered, to whom sages pay homage, from whom ascetics (obtain) decisions (on doubtful points) in the Âgamas, who has mercy on living beings, (and) in whom resides the religion (dharma) !

......(V. 70.) At the tîrtha of Dhavalasarasa, he, striving at ripeness which was blessed by renunciation, full of joy, with firm, (and) exercising (his body) in the (five) methods (of
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......¹ This verse illustrates Padmanâbha’s surname Vâdikôlâhala, i.e. ‘the tumult of disputants.’
......² [The twice six kinds of austerities are the six external (bâhira-tapas) and the six internal (abhyantara- tapas). Regarding their names and the whole classification of tapas, see the Aupapâtikasûtra, paragraph 30.― E. L.]
......³ In comparing the twelve kinds of austerities to the sun, the author alludes to one of the names of the latter, viz. Dvâdaśâtman.
......⁴ This sentiment is suggested by the name of Maladhârin, which means ‘the bearer of dirt.’
......⁵ The Rôhaṇa mountain (Adam’s Peak) is celebrated for its mines of precious stones.
......⁶ See page 204 above, note 2.