North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE KALACHURIS OF RAIPUR

sin !—(she) who looks like a white female swan in the lotus which is the face of Brahmā ; who is the maiden that uproots the tap-root of the whole creeper of sins ; whose feet are saluted by crowds of gods ; (and) who is the cow of plenty to poets !

(V. 3) Obeisance to that illustrious teacher who, with the pencil of the magic ointment, namely, knowledge, opens the eyes of those who are blinded by the defect of ignorance !

(V. 4) Triumphant is (Śiva) who, by the stroke of one arrow, destroyed three cities ! What are (even) three worlds to the bow-men who (can) pervade them with arrows ?

(V. 5) May the drops of the water of the Gaṅgā grant you happiness ! –(those) which, as Śambhu dances, have the beauty of pearls on his head ; which appear like jasmine flowers on the large creepers of his matted hair; which fall gracefully like a necklace round his neck; which shine like full-blown flowers in the cavity of his hands ; which are arranged on the ground like flowers showered down and which look beautiful like stars in the sky !

(V. 6) May the digit of the moon protect you ! –(the digit) which stays like a female ascetic in the cottage-like mass of matted hair on the head of Śiva by (the bank of) the Gaṅgā !

(V. 7) May Śambhu grant me, in every life, recollection of former existence, lordship of the earth, fruitful intelligence through good fortune, devotion to Śive (and) spiritual knowledge !

(V. 8) Those who are devoid of religious merit do not bow to Śiva, who wears matted hair, has the crescent moon on his crest, always wears garments and bracelets of large serpents, (and) has ornaments of strings of skulls and white ashes.^²

Hail ! In the memorable Saṁvat 1458 (and) Śaka year 1322, in the cyclic year named Sarvajit, on Friday, the eighth (tithi) of the bight fortnight of Phālguna—on this day, here, at the famous Rāyapura, during the reign of the Mahārājādhirājā, the illustrious king Brahmadēva, (while there is) the Prime Minister, Ṭhākura Tripurāridēva and the Paṇḍita, Mahādēva—at that time the Nāyaka Hājirāja erected a temple of Hāṭakēśvara.
The description of the city—

(V. 9) Dwelling in (this) victorious Rāyapura, beautiful women, who are themselves the herbs that revive the god of love, deride in their minds, on account of the blessed pleasures (which they enjoy), (Alakā) the city of Kubēra.

(V. 10) In the famous city of Rāyapura (there was) a great king (named) Lakshmī-dēva. His son (was) Siṁha, well-known for (his) warlike qualities.

(V. 11) (His) son (was) Rāmachandra, whose beautiful cheeks were kissed by the ear-ornaments made of a number of uniform jewels ; who gathered (round himself) a crowd of Brāhmaṇas, even as the rays of the moon rising in autumn attract flocks of birds ; whose wealth is always expended in benefiting the whole world in which families of enemies have been destroyed, and who supports the clear (poetic) talent of the foremost among charming poets.

(V. 12) The goddess of heroism is even here, on the earth, pining for the king Brahman,—(she) who has routed great warriors on the earth (which is churned) by the Mandara mountain, namely, his death-like sword ; who has covered (herself) with the silken
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¹ Malli (also called mallikā) is ‘Jasminum Zambac’.
² Compare verse 1 of the Chhōṭi Deori inscription, No. 36, above.