North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE KALACHURIS OF RATANPUR

TRANSLATION

Success ! Ōṁ ! Adoration to Brahman !
[For a translation of verses 1—10, see above, pp. 428 ff.]
(Verse 11) His son Pṛithvidēva (II) of well-known fame, who has planted his lotus-like foot on the rows of hostile princes' heads, has become the lord of kings—(he) who, by devastating Chakrakōṭa, overwhelmed the illustrious Gaṅga king with anxiety in regard to the crossing of the ocean which was the sole means (of saving his life).

(V. 12) In the family of the sage Vatsa there was born formerly a Brāhmaṇa named Hāpūka of great renown who, being foremost among those learned in the Vēdas, became dear to the world and possessed blameless prosperity; being smeared by whose glory, which in colour was as it were akin to powdered camphor and liquid sandal paste, the surface of the firmament shone all round.

(V. 13) He had a well-known son named Jīmūtavāhana, who by his life sanctified the earth, and attracted prosperity by his merits, and in whose case the goddess of fortune herself gave up her natural fickleness.

(V. 14) To him was born a wise son named Dēlhūka who has an intellect proficient in Vedāntic principles and matchlessly radiant in regard to Smṛitis. Clever and noble as he is, his greatness is for obliging the (whole) world.

(V. 15) Having learnt (from him) the Śākambhari vidyā^¹ which is incomparable in all the worlds and having defeated his enemies with ease in the forefront of the battle, Brahmadēva, the well-known feudatory (of Pṛithvīdēva II) regards him highly as the sole match for (Bṛihaspati) the preceptor of gods.

(V. 16) Pṛithvīdēva (II) granted him the village Paṇḍaratalāī in the Ēvaḍi maṇḍala on the occasion of a solar eclipse.

(V. 17) Those, who will be born in this family, should confirm this copper (charter) so long as the serpent (Śēsha) supports the earth with a thousand pillar-like hoods.

(V. 18) Whoever may hereafter be a king or a minister also should protect with care this religious gift of mine.
(Here follow four benedictive and imprecatory verses.)

(V. 23) This praśasti incised on copper (plates) was composed by the illustrious Malhaṇa, the son of the illustrious Śubhaṅkara, who, being well-read, is a bee on the lotuses in the form of poets and has used words with splendid significance in a large number of prabandhas (works).

(V. 24) These excellent copper (plates) were prepared by Vāmana, written by a son of Kīrti and incised by a son of Lakshmīdhara.
The year 896^² . . . .

Seal
The King, the illustrious Pṛithvīdēva.

______________________

¹See above, p. 460, n. 1.
²The aksharas and figures that follow may have been intended to convey Āśvina 15; but even in this heading, the fortnight would remain unspecified.