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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA sadvṛittâm=aksharâvalîṁ | nichakhâna śilâ-paṭṭê muktâphala-nibhâm= iha || (symbol) || [36 ||*] B.─ EULOGY OF BHAṬṬA-BHAVADÊVA BÂLAVALABHÎBHUJAṄGA. This inscription contains 25 lines of writing which cover a space about 3′ broad by 1′ 4¾″ high. The writing, here too, is carefully executed and, with the exception of about a dozen effaced aksharas at the end of line 24, well preserved. The size of the letters is about ½″. The characters are similar to those of the inscription A. Contrary to what is the case in that inscription, rṇṇ as well as rth─ rgg happens not to occur─ are here denoted by signs without the superscript r (except perhaps in samartham=, l. 7). Moreover, anusvâra is written only by the superscript circle, and the sign of avagraha is nowhere employed. The language is Sanskṛit and, with the exception of the introduction Ôṁ ôṁ namô bhagavatê Vâsudêvâya, the effaced passage at the end of line 24, and the short line 25, the text is in verse. As regards orthography, the sign for v denotes both v and b ; the dental nasal is employed instead of anusvâra in the word mîmânsâ, ll. 16 and 17, and in tamânsi, l. 16, and lîlâvatans-, l. 19 ; and the word śrîvatsa is written śrîvachchha, l. 20. In a few places the rules of saṁdhi have been neglected by the writer ; and in line 6 the author himself has written śrî-Âdidêva instead of śry-Âdidêva, which would not have fitted into the verse. Otherwise the text is correct ; and, for a praśasti, the style generally is simple and unpretending. The poem in line 25 is described as a eulogy of the Bhaṭṭa, the illustrious Bhavadêva, surnamed Bâlavalabhîbhujaṅga. It was composed by his friend, the Brâhmaṇ Vâchaspati (v. 33). After the words ‘ Ôṁ, ôṁ ! Adoration to the holy Vâsudêva !,’ the author in verse 1 invokes the blessing of the god Hari (Vishṇu), and in verse 2 appeals to the goddess of speech to favour his task of proclaiming the praises of Bhaṭṭa-Bhavadêva’s family. Verses 3-14 give a sketch of Bhavadêva’s descent ; vv. 15-26 eulogize him, chiefly for his scholarly achievements ; and vv. 27-32 record the pious works which furnished the occasion for writing this praśasti. The details are as follows :─
Of the villages granted to, and the homes of, Brâhmaṇs learned in the Vêdas who born in the family of the sage Sâvarṇa, a hundred may adorn the lands of Âryâvarta ; but foremost among all is Siddhala, which is the ornament of the country of Râḍhâ[1] (v. 3). At that village prospered a family to which belonged a certain Bhavadêva (v. 5), whose elder and younger brothers were Mahâdêva and Aṭṭahâsa (v. 6). He, to whom the king of Gauḍa granted (the village of) Hastinîbhiṭṭa, and eight sons, the chief (or eldest) of whom was Rathâṅga (v. 7). From Rathâṅga sprang Atyaṅga ; and his son was Budha, surnamed Sphurita (v. 8). From him Âdidêva was born (v. 9), who became minister of peace and war (saṁdhivigrahin) of the king of Vaṅga (v. 10). His son was Gôvardhana (v. 11), distinguished as a warrior and a scholar (v. 12). He married[2] Sâṅgôkâ, the daughter of a Vandyaghaṭîya[3] Brâhmaṇ (v. 13), and begat on her person in whose honour this praśasti was composed, Bhavadêva (v. 14), whom the poet glorifies as a divine being, while he indicates his worldly position by telling us that, aided by his counsel, (the king) Harivarmadêva long exercised the government, and that his policy rendered prosperous the reign of that king’s son also (v. 16). More interesting is the ___________________________________ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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