North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF NORTH KONKAN

Samantas (in proper discipline) (and is rightly called) Rāya-Pitāmaha (Brahmā among kings) be victorious !

.. (Verse 14). What else can be described of him who welcomed in various ways Gōmma, who resorted to him for protection; who caused to be made firm the infirm rule of Aiyapadēva; who gave protection to the kings Bhillama, Ammaṇa and Mambuva; and who had the title of ‘Rāma among title-holder’s ?

.. (Verse 15). From him was born the son named Vajjaḍadēva (I), who mastered political science, and was a crest-jewel of kings, whose deeds all people even now praise, with their creeper-like bodies having clothes of horripilation.

.. (Verse 16). Then there was born his brother, king Arikēsarin, who had the grace of the thunderbolt in destroying the principal mountains in the form of arrogant foes; who even when he was a boy, went with an army to Somēśvara and having seen (that god), came back after offering him the whole worlds as directed by his father.

.. (Verse 17). Who caused the ladies in the harems of his enemies, slain by his short sword drawn out (of its scabbard), to have dangling unbraided hair, to discard necklaces from their pitcher-like breasts, and to discard the use of collyrium (usually applied) to the eyes.

.. (Verse 18). The creeper of whose fame rises above this bower of Brahmāṇḍa as if because it is made to grow by the sprinkling of water in the form of tears from the eyes of the wives of the enemies slain (by him).

.. Now, while the Mahāmaṇḍalēśvara, the illustrious king Arikēsaridēva, —who, by his religious merit, has obtained the five mahāśabdas and who is adorned with all royal titles such as ‘the lord of the city of Tagara’, ‘a king of the Śilāhāra family’, ‘a scion of the family of Jīmūtavāhana’, ‘(he) who has the ensign of the Golden Eagle’, ‘(he) who is a born Vidyādhara’, ‘(he) who excels the world in charity’, ‘the lord of the Western Ocean’, ‘a goad to the neck of the Kali Age’, clever in the use of the bow’, ‘an adamantine cage for those who seek protection’ and so forth, —is ruling over the entire Kōṅkaṇa country comprising fourteen hundred villages headed by Purī together with several maṇḍalas conquered by his arm and while the Mahāmātya, the illustrious Vāsapaiya, and the Mahāsāndhivigrahika, the illustrious Vārdhiyapaiya are shouldering the burden of the cares of government,—at that time the Mahāmaṇḍalēśvara, the illustrious king Arikēsaridēva addresses, with salutation, honour and respect, all residents of the famous Sthānaka and all assembled princes, councellors, the family priest, the Amātyas, the principal and subordinate officers, the village people and government servants, whether formally appointed or not, and also the artisans, ,guilds, the three classes of townsmen and so forth as follows:—

.. “Be it known to you ! Prosperity is unsteady, youth is momentary, and life lies in the jaws of Death; and still, men are indifferent to the acquisition of the other world. How surpriseing is this action of theirs !

.. And realising that youth is being devoured by the demoness of Old Age hidden inside (the body), that grief of separation from one’s dear ones is like falling into hell after dwelling in heaven, and wealth and life are extremely fickle like drops of water on the leaf of a lotus-plant tossed by wind, one should accumulate the reward of charity by firm non-attachment.

.. (Verse 20). In Kṛita. Trēta and Dvāpara Ages penance is highly praised. (But) in the Kali Age, sages recommend only charity.

.. (Verse 21). The sages say that in the Kali Age neither knowledge nor penance is as fruitful as charity.

.. And it has been declared by Vyāsa :—

.. (Verse 22). Gold was the first product of fire, land belongs to Vishṇu, and cows are