North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE KALACHURIS OF RATANPUR

SHEORINARAYAN INSCRIPTION OF JAJALLADEVA II : YEAR 919

him (as Satīs) in order to enjoy, as it were in heaven, celestial pleasures in the company of their husband.

(V. 34) When he, the treasure of excellences, started for heaven, beauty vanished, life departed, charity left for (distant) regions, prowess knew no judicious habitation, playful actions stayed far away, merits became religious mendicants—even stones cried and (even) the heart of adamant broke through grief !

(V. 35) At Sōṇṭhivapura Sarvadēva made a cloud-scraping temple of Śambu also an extensive tank (and) a grove of trees.

(V. 36) At the village of Paṇḍaratalāī, Āmaṇdēva (I) established a charitable feeding house with offshoots of sacrificial posts, (made) a grove (full) of cuckoos (and) also a tank.

(V. 37) At the village of Pathariā the illustrious Rājadēva constructed a cloud-scraping temple of (Śiva), the Destroyer of Cities, akin to the splendour of kunda flowers and the moon, (raised) a beautiful grove of mango trees with warbling cuckoos, and (excavated) an extensive tank, which, with humming of female bees hovering on collections of lotuses, renders multitudes of travellers happy.

(V. 38) The queen Rāmbhallā made a lovely lake at a village called Vaṇārī and a grove of mango trees at the village of Pajaṇi.

(V. 39) There was^¹Āmaṇadēva (II), the son of Ulhaṇadēva, well-known on the earth, who was looked upon by the king Jājalladēva (II) with the favour (shown) to a distinguished son.

(V. 40) This praśasti (eulogy), beautiful like a woman (who appears) charming with her good qualities, was eagerly composed by Kumārapāla, a descendant of Sahasrārjuna, (who is) the best of Kshatriyas.^²

(V. 41) The same intelligent (Kumarapala) wrote it with pearl-like letters. Chhituka, who is renowned for his knowledge of mechanical arts, has incised it.

(V. 42) He gave, with reverence, the village Chiñchēlī to the (god) Chandrachūḍa (Śiva) for all materials of worship such as offerings of food, incense and lights.

(V. 43) As long as the daughter of the ocean (i.e., Lakshmī) occupies in joy the breast of (Vishṇu) who is distinguished by the Kaustubha, the celestial river the head of (Śiva) whose twisted matted hair is adorned with the crescent moon, (and) Vedic recital in sweet accents the row of Brahmā’s mouths,-even so long may this faultless meritorious work of his shine !

(V. 44) How many kings have there not been, who enjoyed the whole expanse of the earth ? (This) earth, though immovable, did not remain permanently even in their possession. Hence future rulers of the country, giving up infatuation, should protect this my meritorious work as their own.

(V. 45) The resplendent (and) high temple of Durgā in front of the god (Chandrachūḍa) has been constructed by Vikannadēva for the attainment of the desire of (his) mind.

The Chedi year 919. May the world be happy !

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¹Though the past tense is used here, the inscription was probably put up by Āmaṇadēva II himself. See above, p. 521.
² Verses 40 and 41 should properly come after verses 42—45. Among the latter also, verse 45 should have been written before verse 43.