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INSCRIPTIONS OF THE EARLY GURJARAS
Success ! Hail! From Nāndīpurī-
In the family of the Gurjara kings which resembles the ocean; which has brightened
the faces of all regions with the abundance of its manifold and spotless excellences as the
ocean does with its varied and stainless jewels; which has protected all great kings who are its
allies, as the ocean has saved all the great mountains possessed of wings (that sought refuge in
it); which always refrains from transgressing the limits (of proper conduct), as the ocean abstains
from overflowing its shores; which is possessed of firmness, serenity and beauty, as the
ocean has stability, depth and saltness; which, on account of its great courage, is difficult
to be attacked, as the ocean, on account of its having large animals, is difficult to be plunged
into;─there (was) the Sāmanta Dadda [I], who, possessing the goddess of (royal) fortune since
his birth and occupying a (royal) position hostile to the evil-minded (Krishna-hridaya1), destroyed
(the influence of) the Kali age by the mass of his spotless fame, as the Kaustubha jewel which
was produced together with Lakshmī,2 and has found a resting place on Krishna’s breast,
dispels a mass of darkness with the multitude of its rays; who, having good allies, has uprooted
the descendants of the families of his adversaries even as Vainatēya (Garuda), possessing
excellent wings, destroyed the progeny of the hostile families of serpants; who, even
from his birth, had all his calamities3 removed by bowing to the lotus-like feet of the sun.
He,4 who had a body adorned with a multitude of steady excellences and a canopy of white
and spotless fame in the guise of pearls falling from the frontal globes of the elephants
of (his) enemies that were slain (in battles), and who was possessed of courage suitable to
his (majestic) form, stood always fearlessly at the head of kings, even as a young lion, with
his body adorned with a mane, and a canopy of his bright and spotless fame spread over
him in the guise of pearls from the frontal globes of hostile elephants slain by him,
stands fearlessly on the top of mountains. Accomplishments such as (proficiency in) a number
of fine arts, (and) troops of the elephants of his enemies, walking slowly on account of
rut, that were captured by his valour, and young and beautiful women walking languidly
owing to the gracefulness (of their gait) caused by intoxication, who were attracted by his
prowess, day after day, as if in mutual rivalry, resorted to him who was the moon (dispelling)
the darkness of the extremely sinful Kali age. Like young women obtained by good fortune5
and rendered beautiful by their plump breasts, the regions at the feet of the Vindhya
mountain created by Bhaga6 and adorned by high clouds, delighted him, who pleased
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1According to Prof. Kielhom this word krishna in addition to denoting the god Krishna, may
perhaps denote the Katachchuri Krishnarāja. The expression may, therefore, signify that Dadda I
was a favourite (or, feudatory) of Krishnarāja. He concedes, however, that it may also be taken to
mean he whose actions (āspada, kritya) were hostile to the evil-minded.
2I. e., churned out of the milk-ocean along with Lakshmī.
3For the use of durita in the sense of calamity, misfortune, of. Apatyēyat=tādrig=duritam-abbaral,
etc. Uttararāmacharita, Act. IV, V. 3.
4This and the following sentences descriptive of Dadda I figure as relative clauses in the original.
The construction has been changed for the sake of convenience in translating.
5Dr. Fleet translates: ‘as if they were wives productive of married happiness.’ The original
does not, however, contain any such utprēkshā.
6Bhaga is a name of Rudra.
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