South Indian Inscriptions

EPIGRAPHIA INDICA

21 s=sambhavan-nâyaka-śrîḥ [|*] suchiram=avani-bhûshâ Tammusiddh-âbhidhânas= sarasa-madhura-mûrttiś-chêtanaḥ kô=pi hâraḥ || [25*] Yaśaś=śubhraṁ yasya śravaṇa-subhagaṁ saṁsadi muhus=Sahasrâkshaś=śṛiṇvan=madhura-vachasaḥ kinna-
22 ra-mukhât [|*] sva-chakshus-saṁkhyâka-śruti-vibhava-kautûhala-vaśât kaḷatrâya prâya[ḥ*] spṛihayati punar=Ggautama-munêḥ || [26*] Daḷita-ripu-karîndra-śrêṇi- vistîrṇṇa-kumbha-sthala-vigaḷita-śumbhan-mauktika-vyâpta-
23 mûrttiḥ [|*] jayati ghaṭita-lakshmîḥ kshîra-vâś-chûrṇṇa-kîrṇṇaḥ purusha iva purâṇa[ḥ*] śyâmaḷô yat-kṛipâṇaḥ || [27*] Sa Śrîdêvyâm=Êrasiddhi-kshitîśâj= jâta[ḥ*] śrîmân=Manmasiddh-ânujanmâ [|*] dhâtrîm=êtân=trâyamâṇas=sa-
24 mastâm=ast-ârâtis=Tammusiddhi-kshamâpaḥ || [28*] Dêvây=Âdhipurîśâya Śak- âbdê dhîrayâyini [|*] grâmêshv=asya nṛipa-grâhyam prâdâd=âyam=aśêshataḥ || [29*] Yatnêna dharmma-saraṇiḥ parirakshaṇîyâ s=êya-
25 m bhavatbhi(dbhi)r=akhilair=iti Tammusiddhaḥ [|*] âgâminaḥ praṇayatê nṛipatîn=ajasran=dûran=natêna śirasâ na śarâsanêna || [30*] (symbol) || Êtat kshôṇîbhṛitâm=aṁśu-jaṭâlair=mmakuṭair=ddhṛitam [|*] jaga[t*]-
26 traya-prasiddhasya Tammusiddhasya śâsanam || [31 *]

TRANSLATIONS.^[1]

(Verse 8.) In his (i.e. Manu’s) family was Raghu who was fed by the milk of Surabhi which had become the cause of procreation. Is it surprising, under these circumstances, that he should have performed a sacrifice at which (his) whole property was given away, (and) that he should have conquered also all the quarters ?^[2]

(V. 9.) Then there was in his family Paṅktiratha,^[3] who, by the exploits of (his) arm protecting for a long time (both) Amarâvatî and this earth, kept, of his own accord, (the one) free from demons (and the other sprinkled) with the water of donations.

(V. 10.) From him was born, under the name of Râma, Hari full of valour,^[4] who, having killed in battle the lord of the Râkshasas who was injuring all (beings) through (his) arrogance (awakened by the conquest) of (Indra’s) heaven,^[5] took back his queen, after she had emerged in purity from the fire which she had entered, as the narrow digit of the moon (emerges again in old splendour) from the sun after it has entered it,^[6] and went to (his) capital.

(V. 12.) In this family was born Kalikâla-Chôḷa, the hero who supplied with banks the daughter of Kavêra.[7] When (Mount) Mêru had been merely touched by his play-staff, it began to snake and (thereby) caused a confusion among the quarters.

(V. 15.) In this family was born (a king) called Betta, who was the crusher of the thunderbolt whose flight was impelled by Śakra;^[8] if he with his fiery splendour had risen before, the cutting of the wings of the mountains also would not have taken place.

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^[1]Only the verses which are not found in the Tiruvâlaṅgâḍu and Tiruppâśûr inscriptions have been translated here. Verse 29 also has been omitted, because, apart from the name of the god, it is identical with verse 21 of the Tiruvâlaṅgâḍu inscription.
^[2] According to the Raghuvaṁśa (II. 69 ff.) Raghu was conceived by Sudakshiṇâ, after her husband Dilîpa had drunk from the milk of the cow Nadinî, the daughter of Surabhi, and not of Surabhi herself as implied by the verse of the inscription. Raghu’s digvijaya and his performance of the Viśvajit sacrifice are narrated in the fourth sarga of the Raghuvaṁśa ; compare with our verse especially IV. 86 :─ sa Viśvajitam âjahrê yajñaṁ sarvasvadakshiṇam.
^[3] I.e. Daśaratha.
^[4] The term vikrama is used with reference also to the three strides of Vishṇu.
^[5] Râvaṇa’s conquest of India’s heaven is told in the Râmâyaṇa, VII. 27 ff.
^[6] According to the Purâṇas, the moon, when reduced by the draughts of the gods, enters the orbit of the sun and is replenished by it ; see e.g. Vishṇupurâṇa II. 12, 4 ff.
^[7] I.e. the Kâvêrî ; see above, Vol. VI. p. 132, note 5.
^[8] Or ‘of Aśani Śakrachôditagati.’ Regarding this verse see my remarks above. p. 148 f.