North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF NORTH KONKAN

TRANSLATION

Success ! May there be victory and prosperity !

..(Verse 1). May that Gaṇanāyaka (i.e. Gaṇapati) protect you from calamity— (he) who destroys obstacles and who, by means of worship, receives attention in all undertaking !

.. (Verse 2). May that Śiva always protect you—(he) on whose head the Gaṅgā shines like the bright crescent of the moon as it rises over the peck of Sumeru !

.. (Verse 3). May that Śaṅkara, adorned with a large mass of brown matted hair tied with the lord of serpents, secure your well-being at all times by means of his manifested boons— (the god ) who bears the crescent moon which he has himself placed on his head and which resembles the extremely resplendent tender shoot of the kētaka flower !

.. (Verse 4). Jīmūtavāhana, the ever compassionate son of Jīmūtakētu, is well-known in the three worlds—who, valuing his own body as not better than a straw, saved, indeed, Śaṅkhachūḍa from Garuḍa.

.. (Verse 5). In his family there arose Kapardin (I), an ornament of the Śīlāra race, who quelled the arrogance of his enemies. From him was born his son, Pulasakti by name, who resembled the orb of the sun by his brilliant splendour.

.. (Verse 6). Then was born his son, younger Kapardin (i.e. Kapardin II), through fear of whom all his enemies offered libations of water to the pleasure derived from their kingdoms.

.. (Verse 7). From him was born his son named the illustrious Vappuvanna, a unique warrior on the earth, courageous on the field of battle. His famous son was the illustrious Jhañjha. Thereafter, his brother Gōggi of handsome form became king.

.. (Verse 8). From him sprang a son named the illustrious Vajjaḍadēva (I), famed for his astounding and attractive deeds, the crest-jewel of the circle of the earth. Royal Fortune, approaching him, all on a sudden and of her own accord, on the battle-filed, felt delighted while sporting on the bosom of him whose strength lay solely in his own arm, as she does on that of Murari.

.. (Verse 9). To him was born an illustrious and virtuous son (named Aparājita as Jayanta was to Indra and as the six-faced (Kārttikēya) was to Siva.

.. (Verse 10). Who was veritable Karṇa in liberality and Yudhishṭhira in truthfulness; who was the brilliant sun in valour and the rod of Yama to his enemies.

.. (Verse 11). He, who gave protection to other feudatories also who sought refuge with him in this world—that king is (indeed) victorious, being rightly called ‘the admantine cage (affording protection) to those seeking refuge.’

.. (Verse 12). As he covered this (whole) world with his unceasing gifts of gold, he became well-known in the world by the title of the world-excelling donor.

.. (Verse 13). Those kings who approached him with their vast armies praised always his unsurpassed truthfulness, charity and valour in their minds. Those who, having lost their kingdoms, sought refuge with him, were reinstated by him. May he who has initiated the
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[1] This English translation has Jouba, but the correct name seems to have been Jōupaiya as in the Bhāṇḍup plates of Chhittarāja (No. 9).
[2] This has been translated as ‘the Great Bard living in the royal palace’.