North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF KOLHAPUR

took away (the jar of nectar [1]), and who caused delight to the serpents in regard to Jīmūtavāhana[2. ]

..(V. 2). There rose king Jatiga(I), the sun in the sky of the glorious family of the Śilāhāras, a brother to the lotuses that were his friends, who destroyed the darkness in the form of his enemies. His son was Nāyivarman. His most dear son was Chandrarāja, an abode of courage and fortune. Then there shone his offspring, king Jatiga (II). His son was Gōṅkaraja.

(V. 3). His brother was king Gūvala (I), who vanquished a number of enemies. Then there shone his brother king Kīrtirāja the conqueror of his enemies.

(V. 4). After him, the son of King Gōṅka, Mārasiṁha by name, became the ruler, who was a veritable Cupid to courtesans, a lion to the rutting elephants in the form of arrogant foes in battle, an abode of truth, the Lord of Laṅkā[3] by his commands, whose maternal uncle was dear to the Emperor[4], who possessed matchless qualities, and was the god Vishṇu himself in respect of handsome form.

.. (V. 5). His son was named named Gūvaladēva (II), an ocean of political wisdom, the sole centre of warlike qualities, whose long arm was clasped by the Lady of victory, and who was always dreadful to wicked princes.

.. (V. 6). His younger brother was the illustrious Bhōjadēva (I), whose lotus-like feet were covered by the handsome locks of kings bending before him, and who was clever in initiating in widowhood the courtesans of his enemies.

.. (V. 7). His brother was king Ballāla, who was Cupid to beautiful women. How can he, indeed, be described, whose glory whitened the expanse of the sky and the earth ? Having seen his rays robbed from him day and night by him (Ballāla), this moon now beras, in the guise of his spot, the stigma of his heart caused by shame.

.. (V. 8). His younger brother, the illustrious king Gaṇḍarāditya, has been shining in the world for a long time. His sole aim is to dispel the pitchy darkness in the form of a multitude of wicked enemies.

.. (V. 9). He, whose valour is irresistible, who is always prosperous, who has innumerable wonderful horses which have the speed of the mind, (and) who is shining day and night, excels (the Sun) which beras the same name as he ; for the latter’s lustre can be avoided, it rises only during day-time, it has only seven horses of ordinary speed, and it does not shine at night.

.. (V. 10). King Gaṇḍarāditya is the Sun, the lord of the Vidyādharas as the Sun is of planets ; who develops the prosperity of the people as the Sun does the beauty of the lotuses ; for he always destroys the enemies as the Sun dispels darkness.

.. (V. 11). King Gaṇḍarāditya is (the Sun), a jewel among Vidyādharas as the Sun is among heavenly bodies. Like the Sun, holding lotuses in his hands, he shines with his lotus-like hands ; as the Sun is praised by a multitude of gods, he is lauded by a number of wise men ; like the Sun, he shines every day ; like the Sun, he makes the people active by his power, (and) is not actuated by any selfish objects ; like the Sun he, though stationed in one place, has enveloped all the regions around by his lustre, and, day after day, makes this earth look more and more glorious.

.. The illustrious Mahāmaṇḍalēśvara Gaṇḍarādityadēva—who is adorned with all royal titles such as ‘one who has obtained the five mahāśabdas’, Mahāmaṇḍalēśvara, ‘the lord of Tagara,
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[1] Garuḍa took away the jar of nectar from Indra for being presented to the serpents in order to free his mother Vinatā from their bondage.
[2] Bhagvanlal wrongly took the verse to mean that Garuḍa carried away the nectar to Jīmutavāhana.
[3] This may refer to his conquest of the Goā territory.
[4] Bhagvanlal translates this as ‘the beloved uncle of the lord of a circle’, which does not give a good sense. There is perhaps a reference here to Emperor Vikramāditya VI, a contemporary of Mārasiṁha.