________________
DEWAL PRASASTI OF LALLA THE CHHINDA.
I. 28. विष्णुहरानयेन च लिखिता गौडेन करणिकेयेवा । gfzerwerfa fagar wenfernfirmim » (941]" कन्यागतेनापि कामदेवतेन च ।
उत्कीर्खा सोमनाथेन टहविज्ञानशालिना ॥ १७ ॥ सम्वत्सरसहल १०४८ मा वदि ७ गुरुदिने ॥ ॥"
81
TRANSLATION.
Om, Om, Adoration to Siva!
1. May the husband of Pârvati protect you,-he by whom the mainfestation of a charm (in the shape of) the Mahdstotra, was made in the three worlds that were greatly frightened at that time when the King of Serpents had his jewelled heads obliquely rent by the load of the earth that fell far away in consequence of the multitude of the mountain-plateaux bending under the weight of a gentle pressure of the tip of (Siva's) great toe he who humbled the pride entertained by the ten-headed (Rávana) on account of his strength and valour."
2. May the Daughter of the Mountain purify the universe-she the spotless splendour of whose throat has been gained through a multitude of pearls fallen from the frontal globes of the Dânava (who assumed the shape of) an elephant (and was) wounded by (her) trident, she who wears as it were the halo surrounding the moon which is surpassed by her face."
8. Victorious be the race of the Chhinda princes, the scene of the coquettish sport of Lakshmi, the field of the playful activity of brave warriors, an ocean containing jewels (in the shape of) renowned kings, a lake for the royal swan Sri, a sacred bathingplace for those who keep the vow of noble heroes, a moon to gladden the needy, (who may be compared to) the night lotuses,, a forest-fire for the destruction of the families of (their) foes (who resemble) bamboos.
4. Its origin in ancient times from the great sage Chyavana-who sternly frowned in order to break the pride of the Lord of the gods when he was openly tainted by sin"— is known in the eight regions of the world together with its fame.
5. In this race which possesses brilliant fame (comparable to the white flowers of the) Kandala, was born a crest-jewel of warriors, famous on earth under the appellation 'the illustrious Vairavarman' in whose house the clever goddess of Fortune took
41 Metre, Arya. Metre, Anushtubh.
The word is superfluous and ought to be expunged. The mistake seems to have been caused by the author having originally intended to give the date both in words and in figures.
I have rendered the first huge epithet of Siva as literally as possible, because I do not know the myth to which it refers. Siva's encounter with Ravana is frequently alluded to in the Kavyas.
The demon who assumed the shape of an elephant is no doubt Mahishasura. According to the Devimdhdimya, Markandeya Purana, LXXIII, 30, the Asura turned himself also into a Mahagaja. When speaking of the halo which sur rounds the face of Parvati, the poet may have thought of representations, such as are found in Moor's Hindu Pantheon, plate vii, where her head is surrounded by a glory. Chandropanéta which I have taken as equivalent to chandraya spanita, may also stand for chandrena upanita. In the latter case it would indicate that the moon, found on Siva's crest, transferred his halo to the goddess who is closely united with her husband in the form of Ardhanart.
This refers to the quarrel of, Indra and Chyavans, caused by the latter's appropriating a share of the offerings to the Afvins; see H. H. Wilson's Vishnupurdua, vol. III, p. 268, and Dr. F. E. Hall's note thereon. I am unable to find the story in the Kaushilaki-Brahmana where it ought to stand according to the scholiast.
L
