________________
132
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(V. 20.) He who (was afraid to offend against the law, anxious to worship the feet of (Vishnu), the enemy of Madhu, unacquainted with wicked utterances, abashed when his own excellencies were being enumerated, void of calumnious speech, (and) mute by birth to utter untrue words,-what person then was he, that is thus praised as in every respect endowed by nature with famous qualities?
(21.) He, of beautiful body (and) unblunted intellect, with due rites married a suitable (lady) of equal caste, named Kanchhuka, sprung from the Chahamana tribe.
(22.) Arundhati, priding herself to be her superior, was nevertheless unable to measure herself with her in devotion to her husband, and it was for this reason that she, although a good wife (and) intent to do the behests of her husband, extremely abashed as it were, became so utterly emaciated.
(83.) She bore to him that frontal ornament of princely families, the illustrious king Yasovarman, who was a sword to cut doron) the Gaudas as if they were pleasurecreepers, equalled the forces of the Khasas, (and) carried off the treasure of the Kobalas; before whom perished the Kasmirt warriors, who weakened the Mithilas. (and) was as it were a god of death to the MAlavas; who brought distress on the shameful Chedis, who was to the Kurus what a storm is to trees, (and) a scorching fire to the Gurjaras.
(24.) If (Karna), that munificent son of Radha, and that true-speaking son of Pandu, and (Arjuna), that heroic son of Přitha, -need we say it if all those whose greatness is any way famous, who have passed away, were to be here again, they would, blushing at their own conduct, bend down their faces, were they to see him here now.
(25.) While this prince is protecting the distressed, the carrying of arms (only) tends to fatigue men; while he is granting desires, the trees of paradise (only) furnish beds of flowers for the amorous play of the Biddhas; the lord of riches has his mind bewildered at the growth of (his) real wealth, when he is dallying; while his face is a feast of the eyes, the moon causes delight (only) to groups of lotuses.
(26.) When the dust rose on the expeditions of his forces, the river of heaven had its current diverted midway by the embankments formed in it; the sun, having its lustre covered, was pleasant like a mirror; seeing the sky all over covered with clouds, the elephant of the lord of the gods became delighted, (and) the swans eagerly looked upwards, (and) a thousand eyes of averted enemies became closed.
(27.) Him, (who remained) calm at the head of battle, where a fire was spreading with the masses of flames issuing forth from the strokes of the big trunks, meeting in fight, of the mutually enraged elephants, (which roas) terrible with the deep sounds of the bow-strings, (and) where the laughter of demons, intoxicated with the blood drunk by them, was made awful by their mad confused shouts,-him Fortune, frightened as it were, anxiously embraced.
(28.) Free from fear, he impetuously defeated in battle the Chedi king whose forces were countless, who had put down his lotus-foot on rows of diadems of famous princes, (and) who tried to protect himself by showers of arrows of enraged irresistible archers, standing on mighty infuriated elephants that were marching along like towering Aõjana mountains.
