North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE KALACHURIS OF RATANPUR

Ōṁ ! Adoration to Nārāyaṇa ! Hail ! (There was) the Ṭhakkura, the illustrious Śāhilla, the spotless forehead-mark of the family of the illustrious Rājamāla, who gave delight to the Pañchahaṁsa family; who had emigrated from the country of Vaḍahara; who was delighted by the attainment of the pañchamahāśabda ; who was possessed of the distinguishing mark of a banner adorned with a silken cloth representing an indragōpa-like^⁵ royal umbrella over a golden jar.^⁶

(V. 1) Who terrified valiant kings and became the lord of the Vivarabhūmi which he acquired in a great battle.

(V. 2) He had a younger brother (named) Vāsudēva and had a son (named) Bhāyila and also Dēsala who destroyed (his) enemies.

(V. 3) The third (son) was named Svāmin who exterminated (his) enemies. They conquered the Bhaṭṭavila country, inclusive of towns.

(V. 4) Again, (they) conquered, with their prowess and might of arms, the country called Viharā, containing nine hundred and fifty-six hundred villages.

(V. 5) The son of Svāmin, Jayadēva by name, a great warrior, acquired Dāṇḍōra including twenty-one hundred villages.

(V. 6) Such was also his younger son, the matchless Dēvasiṁha who won the Kōmō maṇḍala (containing) seven hundred and fifty (villages).

(V. 7) (There was) the well-known and noble queen, Ṭhakkurājñī Udayā, who was devoted to truth and piety, was of a quiet nature and increased the joy of her family.

(V. 8) Their son was the strong-armed Jagapāla who made the Kshatriyas, who were (previously) ready for fighting, turn their faces away.

(V. 9) Through fear of him, the formidable foes,--the Māyūrikas and the valiant Sāvantas, -the lords of maṇḍalas, completely submitted to him.

(V. 10) Just as the Kshatriya Rāma, (the best) of the warriors destroyed the families (of the demons), even so did this (Jagapāla) kill the forces of his enemies with multitudes of arrows.

(V. 11) Horsemen, elephants, men and horses⁷ fled away from his presence even as elephants do before a lion.

(V. 12) With his nēṅgillas (?), bow and shield, he (i. e., Jagapāla) taking a sword in hand, like (the goddess) who leads warriors, killed in battle a multitude of enemies.

(V. 13) In the interest of the kingdom of his lord, the illustrious Jājalladēva (I), (fought) Jagapāla who was to his foes what the scent-elephant is (to ordinary elephants), and who by his heroic deeds acquired the Tamanāla country together with Rāṭha and Tēra(?)^⁸
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¹ Read महाकविकिकरेण.
² It would be better to read उत्कीर्ण्णापि च.
³Kielhorn read [कु]लचुरि, but the name is clearly as given here.
⁴Read लिखितेति.
⁵This is a red insect seen in the beginning of the monsoon.
⁶See above, p. 452, n. 1.
⁷Perhaps nara-v¬ājinaḥ in the text is intended to signify ‘the best of men.’
⁸See above p. 454, n. 28.