North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE KALACHURIS OF RATANPUR

KONI STONE INCRIPTION OF PRITHVIDEVA II : YEAR 900

prowess spread in the (whole) world; (and) who, being intent on the welfare of his subjects, was indeed an incarnation of righteousness.^¹

(V. 8) While he, who conferred obligations on all people, spread the mass of his fame, and destroyed the advancing lordly elephants of his enemies, was ruling the earth, there were nowhere (to be seen) the arrogance of any king, the fever-like anxiety, due to poverty, of suppliants, the affliction, due to terror, of the person who sought protection, and also the habitation of wicked persons.

(V. 9) To him was (born) a son (named) Ratnadēva (II), the king well-known in the three worlds, who was first to teach humiliation to the flourishing lord of Kaliṅga; who had an extremely developed and spreading fame; who had full knowledge of thirty-six sciences of weapons and the pride of fully developed arms; (and) who was the great magical incantation for the destruction of evil spirits, namely, the rising kings on (this) earth.

(V. 10) Does that illustrious Ratnadēva (II) need to be praised—(he) whose sole delight at all places and times was in the festivity of battle whether he was followed by a host of armies or was alone, and the great noise of whose dreadful marches incessantly hovers over (other) kings, proudly rebuking them as it were and challenging them to fight again and again?

(V. 11) When he, possessed of boundless, dreadful and mysterious prowess, was about to invade the circle of quarters, the highest mountains all round, with the resounding and dreadful reverberations of the sound of his war-drums, were, as it were, calling out to the lords of regions uttering terrific cries, being apprehensive as regards the support of the earth burdened with his large marching hosts.

(V. 12) From that king was born (a son) named Pṛithvīdēva (II), the off- shoot of gems in the head-dress of the lords of the earth,^² even as the sun rises from the slope of a mountain, as the moon was produced from the ocean, as Pradyumna was born from Purushōttama, Hari from the illustrious cowherd Nanda and Skanda from the moon-crested (Siva).

(V. 13) How many warriors did he not vanquish? What good people did he not please ? At the doors of what panegyrists did he not keep lordly rutting elephants tied? How many princes did he not protect when they sought refuge on the battle-fields? What excellences of the victorious Pṛithvīdēva (II) are not attractive ?

(V. 14) There was Sōḍhadēva like a jewel adorning a family of Brāhmaṇas, who received the hereditary ministership of these kings that bore the burden of all good qualities, (and) who was verily a wish-fulfilling tree to suppliants.

(V. 15) Who, being an abode of greatness, crossed the ocean of excellences; whose great fame adorned the world; and whom, possessed of many and marvellous qualities, that (famous) king Pṛthvīdēva (I) of known valour made his hereditary minister.

(V. 16) His son was Nimbadēva, who in his personal from surpassed the god of love; who looked attractive with all (kinds of ) learning; (and) who was wreath on the crown of good people, the heavenly abode of wealth and fame, an ornament of the royal assembly and a friend of good persons.

(V. 17) Who was the dwelling-place of pleasing speech, the abode of religious merit, the resting place of comparison, the resort of good people, the hermitage of
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¹ The meaning may also be that he was an incarnation of Yudhishṭhira, the eldest Pāṇḍava prince, who was well-known for his righteous conduct.
² This suggests that his feet were bowed to by the heads of these kings.