North Indian Inscriptions

INDIA OFFICE PLATE OF VIJAYARAJADEVA.

of Bhôgâvatî, born in the serpent-chief’s race the frontal ornament of the Nâga family, the sun of the lotus— the Sinda family, the submarine fire of the Guṇukas(?), the fever to the elephants— the rulers of districts ;’— the blessing pronounced on him is this :-

......“In former days, it was not Vâmana whose heart, when he was engaged in subduing king Bali,¹faintness did not seize, it was this king Muñja, the crest-jewel of princes ; nor did this king assume a boar’s body, when the world had long been cast down by adversaries. Victory to him, the favourite of the Earth, the conqueror of rows of resplendent rulers !

......“Marvellous it is that your Fame, king Muñja, is so eager to visit incessantly the burning hearts of your enemies which frighten (even) the ocean² of their tears ! Ah, I know, you possess the magic power of stopping fire, poison and the rest, and therefore she lightly wanders among the crowds of the enemies between the Himâlaya and (Râma’s) bridge.”

......And he in the midst of his territory—³

......(L. 32.) Hail! Fortune ! The illustrious Kannasâmanta, who worships the feet of the glorious Tribhuvanamalladêva, who has attained the five mahâśabdas, the great chieftain, the beloved of the fortune of heroes, the god of death to hostile forces, the hurricane to scatter the mass of clouds— mighty chieftains, the lion to the elephants— hostile chieftains, the hunter of chieftains, the fresh essence of the god of love, the passion of warriors, the champion of Rêvaṇadêva, the instruction in what is beneficial to his master, of unshaken firmness, the purifier of his family, the unique friend of good men, Dharma’s son⁴ in righteousness, Râdhâ’s son⁵ in truthfulness, a Rêvanta⁶ in (the management of) horses, a lion in prowess ;— the blessing pronounced on him is this :—

......“Victory to the illustrious Kannasâmanta, who loves to adore Hara’s feet, who touches the breasts of the women of Lâṭa, who has long annihilated the adversaries !”

......(L. 42.) —to him,⁷after purchase, he has given, together with his own rights as chieftain (?), the Vâyvaḍa-Twelve villages, excepting from among them the village of Ṭakkalikâ. In the presence of his chief officer, the Nâyaka, the illustrious Khambhayya ; the Nâyaka Madhukari, the Saṁdhivigrahin ; the Nâyaka Bhammaiya ; (and) the Nâyaka Nimbaya, has this copper-edict, written by Nannapai, the deputy of the Saṁdhivigrahin, been given by the glorious king Muñja with his own hand to Kannasâmanta. The verse here (appropriate is) :—

......“Whosoever should take away land given by himself or given by others, he is born a worm in ordure for sixty-thousand years.”

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.No. 44.— INDIA OFFICE PLATE OF VIJAYARAJADEVA.

BY F. KIELHORN, PH. D., LL.D., C.I.E. ; GÖTTINGEN.

....... I edit this inscription from the accompanying photo-lithograph, which has been prepared under Dr. Fleet’s supervision. The original plate is at the India Office ; there is no information as to where or by whom it was found.
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......¹ The original may also be translated ‘in subduing powerful kings.’
......² i.e. as the submarine fire frightens the real ocean.
......³ This sentence is continued below, in the translation of l. 42 ff.
......⁴ i.e. Yudhishṭhira.
......⁵ i.e. Karṇa.
......⁶ This is the name of a son of Sûrya.
......⁷ Here the sentence commencing above with the words ‘and he in the midst of his territory’ is continued.