Collection of Prakrit and Sanskrit Inscriptions

SR No.: 007577
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: P Piterson
Publisher: Bhavnagar Archiological Department
Total Pages: 322
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Catalogue
File Size: 8 MB

Page 166

SURYA DYNASTY.
89
its excessive splendour, and which has deprived all other cities of the pride of their glory bears the name of Sri Medapata.
8. Here there is a large town named Nagahrida where Harita-rási, whose wealth was austerities, performed penance.
9. Where some, who have begun a series of sacrifices for the benefit of the world, propitiate, in some places, the great (or powerful) Lord Agni with the oblations of their merits produced by their superior powers, (while) other sages, who have known happiness from the retention of their Prinas, having experienced the rise of Truth, see, in retired or lonely spots, the whole universe as located within themselves.
10. In this very grove, where ascetics, whose letters (of worldliness) are for the most part loosened, see, as it were before their eyes, through the strength of yoga, the incidents of the world; Harita who was an abode of the Siddhis and who became united with Siva (Universal Spirit) after the relinquishment of his body, granted regal fortunes to the famous Bappa iu return for services rendered.
11. Assuredly from Brahma-like Harita, Bappaka obtained, in the shape of an anklet, the luster of a Kshatriya,* and gave the sage, his devotion his own Brahmanical lustret. Thus even till now, the descendants of that line, shine on this earth, like Kshatriya-hood in human form.
i. e., Kshatriya-hood.
fi.e., Brahman-hood or rather the merits (punya) he had obtained as a Brahmana which he supposed himself to be at first. A tradition tells us:-"When Siladitya the last king of Vallabhi, who was begotten on a Brahmaut by Saryn, was killed by his enemies, he left behind him a widow, Pushpavati, who was pregnant. When she heard of her husband's death, she was on Arisur fulfilling a vow at the temple of Amba Bhavani. The bereavement broke her heart and she resolved on passing the rest of her life in the jangles there. In course of time she gave birth to a son in a cavern (guha) and to commemorate this incident she called him Gahaditya. Having cutrusted this young child to Brahmanas to be educated after the manner of kings, she became a Suttoe. When Guhâditya grew up, he became king of the Bhills of Bhander, and being brought np by the sacerdotal class, he and his son, Bapa Kául,became Brahmanas in their habits and modes of life. Thus it was that Bapa Raol happened to serve Harita Muni when he was performing his austerities. Ilaria had been given a golden ring by Ekalingaji when he had propitiated the god by the rigidity of his austerities. The sage in his turn gave the ring to Bâpå Râol when bo had pleased him by constant attendance. At the time of receiving the gift the Raol remarked that he did not know what to do with the gold ornament which, he said, befitted a Kshatriya only. Where upon Harita endowed him with the lustro of n Kshatriya, and he on his part gave up unto him his Brahmana-ship." The following couplet from Ekalingaji Mahatmya of Maha-Rana Kumbha-Karna is quoted here in support of the above.
आनन्दपुरसमागतत्रिप्रकुलानन्दनोमहीदेवः । अपतिषीदन्तःप्रभवः धीहि ॥
Victorious is Sri Cahadatta, the founder of the Guhils Race, the delight of the families of Brihma and come from Anandpura (Wadhwan Vardhamina),"
L. 12.
Aho! Shrutgyanam