Indian Antiquary Vol 05

SR No.: 032497
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 438
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1876.
before, or, as Bilhana puts it," Fortunate or unfor. tunate events, advancing to meet mortals, are previously reflected in their souls." Soon he sees the chief messenger of his father coming with "faded cheek, announcing, so to speak, calamity with his profound sighs." The affectionate Vikrama immediately asks the messenger about his father's health, "Slowly by his side he seats him, then in falt'ring
accents speaks, One by one the teardrops rolling chase each other
down his cheeks. Arm thy breast, my prince, with patience, let
thy constancy appear, Black the cloud of evil tidings which must burst
upon thy ear; Joyo, the king to hear thy conquest, which made
Chola's monarch quake, Pâņayas pale with coward trembling, and Ceylon
with terror shake. Then came Fate, relentless hangman, and with
fever smote his frame; Well thou knowest, bliss unshaken can no earthly
sovereign claim. When he found e'en sandal unguents failed to cool
his burning breast, Oft he longed for thy embraces, in thy arms to
sink to rest. Wistfully he looked around him, as if straining
half-closed eyes, Towards the messengers of Indra, sent to call him
to the skies. Thinking then his might departing, flaming forth
in fever heat, He bespake his faithful nobles, gathered weeping
at his feet :Never wan my glory perish, for 'tis written with
my sword On the crowns of vanquished monarchs that havo
owned me for their lord-; Heaven's vault still shows the breaches where my
flaming arrows came, Like a cage in which imprisoned dwells the phoe
nix of my fame; To the realms my sceptre governs wealth flows in
from every side, In my virtuous subjects' mansions Fortune dwells
a princely bride; I can boast a son like Râma, mighty with the sword
and bow, Vikramanka famed for conquest o'er himself and
o'er the foe, Who has freely to his brother yielded up Kalyana's
throne, Now Somervar bears the burden which my feeble
hands disown. Thus my labours here are finished, and I gladly
hail their end;
Having fixed my faith on Siva, to his heaven
I ascend. Oft, alas ! deluded monarchs think the warders at
their gate, Bold to hustle trembling subjects, can arrest the
hand of Fate. Born by Heaven's special favour in Chalukya's
royal line, I have heard some words of wisdom, nor is that
delusion mine. All my hopes are placed on Siva, life is change
ful, as we know, Like the ear of some great war-beast, ever swaying
to and fro; Thinking on the Lord of Umâ, in the Tungabhadra's
stream, I desire to leave my body and break off Life's pain
ful dream; Since by great Srikantha's blessing it has proved
a means of grace, Thankless should I be to leave it in some undistin
guished place. Well resolved,' exclaim the nobles, and their loud
applauses raise; Pious souls to pious actions never grudge the meed
of praise. By a few short easy stages thy loved father
reached the strand Of the holy Tungabhadrâ, Ganges of the southern
land; There the river's dancing billows, like white hands
reared up on high, Seemed to point to Indra's heaven, and uplift him
to the sky. And the lines of pious offerings, piled amid the .
creaming foam, Showed like swans of Brahma's chariot sent to
bear him to his home. Glitt'ring o'er with liquid diamonds flung in spray
showers from afar, Shone thy sire like full-orbed Luna round begirt
with many a star. Firm of purpose then the hero, bathing in the
raging flood, Fixed in pious meditation on the lord of Chandi
stood. Vast the heap of gold he lavished ere he drew his
latest breath; Liberal souls, intent on giving, find the passion
strong in death. Whelmed at last beneath the wave, the billows.
booming in his ear Seemed great Siva's drums of welcome as his soul
to heaven drew near.'” It only remains for us to say that Dr. Bühler's edition of the Vikramankadeva Charita, though made from a single manuscript copied by himself