North Indian Inscriptions

NADUPURU GRANT OF ANNA-VEMA.

ABRIDGED TRANSLATION.

......Verse 1 contains an invocation, addressed to the Boar-incarnation of Vishṇu.

......(V. 2.) “Like the celestial river (Gaṅgâ), a certain caste (jâti), which is distinguished by great virtues (and) whose profession4 deserves respect, took origin, for the welfare of men, from the lotus foot of (Vishṇu) whose navel (bears) a lotus.”

......In this caste was born king Prôla (v. 3). His son was king Vêma (v. 4), who performed the gifts described by Hêmâdri (v. 5).

......(V. 6.) “Desirous of ascending Mêru, Mandara and Kailâsa,⁵ the high-minded king Vêma constructed a flight of steps at Śrîśaila.”

......He had two sons, Anna-Vôta and Anna-Vêma (v. 7), the elder of whom succeeded his father in the kingdom (v. 8).

......(V. 9.) “He granted many agrahâras ; he performed the gifts (described by) Hêmâdri ; he built rest-houses (sattra) at places of pilgrimage (tîrtha) ; and he thoroughly gained the affection of (his) subjects.”

......He was succeeded by (his younger brother) Anna-Vêma (v. 10).

......(V. 13.) “He who was surnamed Vasantarâya, caused not only the earth, but also the sky, to be perfumed with musk, camphor and sandal, scattered (at the spring festival).

......(V. 14.) “Did the three worlds become white through the copious camphor-powder scattered at his spring festivals, or through his fame ?

......(V. 15.) “This hero, who is surnamed the glorious Pallava-Trinêtra, rules the prosperous city of Koṇḍavîṭi, which is situated to the east of Śrîśaila.

......(Vv. 16 and 17.) “As Lakshmî of the Moon, the uterine sister of this Anna-Vêma (is) the famous Vêmasâni, the queen (mahishî) of the glorious prince Nallanûṅka (who resembles) Vishṇu in splendour. She possesses the seven kinds of offspring (sapta-saṁtâna)⁶ (and) daily performs the gifts prescribed in the rules (kalpa) of Hêmâdri.

......(V. 18.) “In the Śaka year reckoned by the tastes (6), the jewels (9), and the suns (12),— (in figures) 1296,─ when the moon was swallowed by Râhu, on the Kârttikî (tithi), before (the god) Vijayêśvara, on the bank of the holy Gautamî,─ that king Anna-Vêma gave to Brâhmaṇas the excellent village called Naḍupûru in Kôṇasthala, for the religious merit of (his) sister, the illustrious Vêmasâni.
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......¹ Read
......² appears to be corrected from
......³ Read
......⁴ With reference to the river Gaṅgâ, jîvana has to be taken in the sense of ‘water.’
......⁵ i.e. in order to gain heaven through charity.
......⁶ See page 92 above, note 3.