South Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MINISTERS AND FEUDATORIES OF THE
VATSAGULMA BRANCH

... (V. 2). There was a Brāhmaṇa (lit., a twice-born man) on earth (named) vindhyśakti, whose strength increased in great battles, whose valour, when he was engraged, was irresistible even by gods, (and) who was mighty in fighting and charity.

... (V. 3). He, whose majesty was like that of Indra and Upēndra (Vishṇu), who, by the might of his arm, conquered the whole world (and) [who destroyed the up-rooted thorns]¹, became the standard of the Vākāṭaka race.

...(V. 4). He, eclipsing in battles the sun with the masses of dust raised by (the hoofs of ) his horses, making the enemies . . . . . .made them intent on salutation to him.

... (V. 5). Having subdued his enemies for (accomplishing) the work of the gods, he made a great effort to acquire religious merit . . . . . . . . . . . .

...(V. 6). His son was Pravarasēna (I), whose lotus-like feet were kissed by the rays of jewels worn on the heads of hostile kings (and) whose eyes resembled fresh, blooming lotuses.

...(V. 7). The rays of the sun . . . . . . (Sarvasēna)² was Pravarasēna (I)’s son who defeated all armies.

...(V. 8). The illustrious Vindhyasēna,³ the noble son of the lord of kings, governed the earth righteously, having conquered the lord of Kuntala . . . . . . . . . . . . .

...(V. 9). His son was Pravarasēna (II), who became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule . . . . . . . . . . . .

... (V. 10). His son . . . . . . . . . .who, having obtained the kingdom when eight years old, ruled well.

... (V. 11). His son became king who, on earth, was known as Dēvasēna . . . .by whose lovely enjoyments the earth . . . . . . . .of the lord of gods⁴.

... (V. 12). Through the greatness of the religious merit of (that) king . . . . . . properly . . . . . .(there) was Hastibhōja, the abode of excellences, . . . . . . . the illustrious Commander of the Elephant Force on the earth⁵.

...(V. 13). He, who had a broad and stout chest and lotus-like eyes, (and) who destroyed the partisans of his enemies, (who had) . . . . . .arms . . . . . .resembled a scent-elephant stationed in a quarter.

... (V. 14). Obliging, modest, loving, agreeable, obedient to (the king’s) wishes, faultlessly . . . . . . . . . . . .

... (V. 15). So also, on account of his being a well-wisher of the world as well as by his happy and excellent rule, he was, indeed, always dear and accessible (to the people) like (their) father, mother and friend.

...(V. 16). . . . . . . . .The king, having entrusted (the government of the kingdom) to him, became free from care and engaged himself in the enjoyment of pleasures, acting as he liked .

... (V. 17). Then his son became king . . . . . . . .Harishēṇa, who, in loveliness, resembled Indra⁶, Rāma, Hara, Cupid, and the moon, and who was brave and spirited like a lion.

...(V. 18). He [conquered], Kuntala, Avanti, Kaliṅga, Kōsala, Trikūṭa, Lāṭa, Andhra, . . . . . .which, though very famous for valour . . .
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¹ i.e., who exterminated wicked people.
² Bhagvanlal and Bühler read the name of this prince as Rudrasēna. See above, p. 105.
³ Bühler read Pṛithīvishēṇa as the name of this prince. See above, p. 105.
⁴ Perhaps the sense is that the earth vied with the world of the gods.”
⁵ Hastikōsha seems to be a technical official title as in the Godāvari copper-plate grant of Pṛithivīmūla. Fleet took it to mean an official who kept the purse and made disbursements on account of the estab- lishment of elephants. J.B.B.R.A.S., Vol. XVI, p. 119.
⁶ Hari of the text should be taken to mean ‘Indra’, not ‘Vishṇu’, as Rāma, an incarnation of Vishṇu, is separately named.