North Indian Inscriptions

KUNIYUR PLATES OF VENKATA II.

single day ; his heroic son was king Râghavadêva ; (and) from him was born the glorious king Pinnama.

......(V. 7.) The son of this lord of the city of Âravîṭi was king Bukka, whose power was (continually) rising, (and) who firmly established even the kingdom of Sâḷuva-Nṛisiṁha.

......(V. 8.) Just as Vishṇu (married) Lakshmî,— Bukka, the ornament of kings (and) the kalpa tree to scholars, married the prosperous Ballâmbikâ, who surpassed the celestial nymphs by her personal beauty, (and) whose virtue was highly respected.

......(V. 9.) As Lakshmî (bore) Kâma from Mâdhava, as Pârvatî (bore) Kumâra from Śaṁkara, and as Śachî (bore) Jayanta from Indra, so did Ballamâ bear a son, Râmarâja, who was renowned in the world, from the lord Bukka.

......(V. 10.) As Lakshmî to Vishṇu, so to this glorious king Râmarâja, who fulfilled the desires of all supplicants, Lakâmbikâ was the queen.

......(V. 11.) In consequence of (his) great austerities, there was born to him a son, king Śrîraṅgarâja, the light of the race of the Moon, at whose brilliant splendour— O wonder !─ the eyes even of the wives of (his) enemies became bright.¹

......(V. 12.) Having wedded as (his) legal wife the virtuous Tirumalâmbikâ, who resembled Arundhatî in good conduct, who at the same time surpassed the fame of the earth in patience, (and) who captivated (all) hearts by (her) good qualities,─ that foremost among heroes felt as happy as the Moon (by the possession of) Rôhiṇî.²

......(V. 13.) This powerful king begat by that Tirumaladêvî the following (three) sons in succession,─ the wise Râmarâja, who was conversant with politics ; the excellent Tirumalârâya ; (and) king Veṅkaṭâdri.

......(V. 14.) Having killed in battle all dangerous enemies in the world, this heroic Râmarâja, who resembled by his great fame Bharata, Manu, Bhagîratha and other kings, ruled the circle of the earth.

......(V. 15.) Among the three sons of king Śrîrasṅga, the wise (and) powerful king Tirumalamahârâya, as Hari among the trinity, having conquered hostile kings in battle (and) having been anointed to the matchless sovereignty, ruled the whole earth.

......(V. 16.) At the coronation of this moon among kings (and) foremost among the famous, this earth, being sprinkled with floods of water (poured out) at donations, occupied (as it were) the place of queen.³

......(V. 17.) Just as the Sâman and the other (three Vêdas were produced) from the month of the Creator, as peace and the other (three) expedients from the brave Satyavâch (?), (and) as Râma and (his three brothers) from Daśaratha,— (thus) from that excellent king were born (four) sons of great fame :─

......(V. 18.) From him were born a king called Raghunâtha ; Śrîraṅgarâya, (who was) a pârijâta (tree) to supplicants ; the glorious Râmarâja, the moon of the earth ; (and) the ramous Veṅkaṭadêvarâya.

......(V. 19.) Among these brothers, Śrîraṅgarâya, who had crossed the milk-ocean of policy (and) who was renowned in the eight regions, was crowned to the kingdom of Penugoṇḍa.

......(V. 20.) After (him) the wise (and) glorious Veṅkaṭapatidêvarâya ruled the earth, illumining the ten regions by (his) fame.
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......¹ i.e. he killed his enemies. As windows are not permitted to use collyrium, the eyes of the relicts of his deceased enemies had a bright appearance, though filled with tears. Hence the wonder.
......² In this verse a virôdhâsa alaṁkâra, which does not admit of a literal translation, is hinted in the antithetic words Arundhantî and rundhatîm.
......³ It is usual at a coronation ceremony to bathe both the king and the queen with water brought from various tîrthas.