North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF KOLHAPUR

..(V. 2). Hail ! There was the illustrious Vidyādhara-like king[1], an ornament of the Siyaḷāra family, the source of the large family descended from Jīmūtavāhana, who had the fluttering graceful banner of the golden Eagle, who appeared splendid with bride of the Earth that had the extensive ocean for her girdle, who deserved praise from the (whole) circle of the earth, and who was a serpent to the hostile army.

.. (V. 3). His mighty son was the illustrious King Jatiga (II), who was opposed to the (whole) multitude of hostile princes, who was a powerful ruler of the city of Tagara, who was (always) true to his word, who shone with his valour, who was a veritable lion of the mountain that was the fortress of Pannāḷa, the best of hills, who looked splendid with his brilliant rising fame, who was the lord of the renouned Māṇḍalikas of the earth, and was capable of giving protection to the (whole ) earth;

..(V. 4). Who was a veritable serpent to the army of the enemy, Indra among all rulers, the crest-jewel of the family of the Vidyādharas, resembling in lustre the hot-rayed(sun), a veritable treasure of all Māṇḍalikas, fond of fighting.

.. (V. 5). There was the illustrious Gōṅka, the best of kings, a liberal and valiant prince, who gave away all his possessions, who, with his sharp sword, overthrew the leader (gañjāmagra?)[2] of the multitude of (his) foes, and ruled for all time over the annexed vishayas of Karahāṭa and Kuṇḍi, and also Miriñjadēśa, and the extensive great country of Kōṅkaṇadesa.

.. (V. 6). His younger brother was the prince Gūhala, who was conversant with political science, who did not provoke laughter (i.e. won praise) as he danced on the battle-filed by his merit of leadership (ganḍa-guṇa)[3], and who became favourite with Satyāśrya as he honoured his feet.

..(V. 7). He was a veritable serpent to the hostile army, a Bhairava to (his) Māṇḍalikas, the commander of his elephant force and cavalry, who had (full) control over the government; who uprooted new kingdoms; who was ruthless in dealing with his foes; a wise prince, who held the excellent hill fort of Kiḷigiḷa; who was the lord of the whole extensive earth; who was a Neo-Sāhasāṅka[5]; (and) who was a valiant person causing terror to the minds of the hostile kings.

.. (V. 8). To the aforementioned king Gōṅka there was born a son of great fame, who had the marks of all virtues, who was devoted to the omniscient (God) and had the blessings of the (whole) world.

.. (V. 9). He is Mārasiṁha, whose arm wielding a sword is fully capable of destroying the army of his powerful foes; whose gift-bestowing hand gladdens the whole multitude of poor, distressed and forlorn suppliants; whose pious hand shines by the construction of temples resembling the heavenly mountain (Mēru); whose arm is engaged in rescuing the great earth; and who is an ornament of the three worlds.

.. (V. 10). The king Mārasiṁha has a body resembling the god of love; he is a veritable lion to the rutting scent-elephants that are his valiant enemies; he is brave, being the abode of valour, and looks splendid with his excellent merits.

.. (V. 11). The king Mārasiṁha resembles Rēvanta (and) Udayana in respect of excellent horse-riding, and Bhīma by his terrible valour; he becomes victorious by (the prowess of) his own arm; he is proficient in political science; he is the god of love in respect of beautiful form;
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[1] The name of this king is not given in this verse which describes him. He was Chandra, father of Jatiga II.
[2] The meaning of gañjāmagra is uncertain. I. have conjecturally taken it to mean ‘a leader’.
[3] This appears a queer description, but the words used here are capable of no other meaning.
[4] This king may be the homnymous son of Tailapa II, who flourished from A.D. 997 to c. 1008.
[5] Sāhasāṅka was a biruda of the Gupta king Chandragupta II. Some later kings, like the Paramāra Sindhurāja, therefore, called themselves Nava-Sāhasāṅka. Gūhala may have done the same.