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HARSHA STONE INSCRIPTION.
117
are the ordinary northern alphabet of the period to which the inscription belongs, and they are skilfully formed and well engraved. The names of the writer and the engraver are not given. The language is Sanskrit, and by far the greater portion of the inscription, to nearly the end of line 33, is in verse. This poetical part is called a prasasti, and was composed by Dhiranâga, the son of the karanika Thiruka (verse 45).-In respect of orthography the text calls for few remarks. The letter b is throughout denoted by the sign for v; before r, t is always doubled after a vowel, e.g., in vichittra, line 4, and súttradharo and dagdha-ltripura, line 6; and a single j is written instead of jj in jealab, line 16, and visphurajñána, line 22. The dental is employed instead of anusvára in dhvansa, line 22; the dental sibilant instead of the palatal in auttaresvaraḥ, line 22, and in Chamdasiva, line 29 (in a verse which offends against the metre); and the dental nasal has been incorrectly changed to the lingual in prasannak, line 15, and wrongly retained in nirnnásita, line 17.-Both the verses and the prose part of the inscription contain some words which are not given by the dictionaries or are employed in an unusual sense. To such words attention will be drawn in the notes on the translation."
The proper object of the poetical part of the inscription, which consists of 48 verses, is to record the erection of a temple of Siva, worshipped under the name of Harsha, on the hill Harsha, by the Saiva ascetic Allata, and the completion of other works of piety by Allata's disciple Bhavadyota. But more interesting is the account which is furnished, by way of introduction, of the princes to whose kingdom the hill Harsha belonged and by whom the ascetics were patronised, and of their wars with other princes who have not yet become known from other sources. And the value of the inscription is enhanced by the fact that it yields a considerable number of names of districts and places, and contains several dates, for one of which the corresponding European date may be given with absolute certainty.
The first twelve verses of the inscription are mainly devoted to the glorification of the god Siva or, as he is more particularly styled here, Harshadeva, of his place of residence, the mountain Harsha, and of the temple erected to the god on that hill. After that the poet, in verses 13-27, celebrates a line of princes belonging to the Châhamâna family, who are said to have become illustrious through their devotion to the god Harsha. The first prince mentioned is
1. Gavaka I., said to have been famous as a hero in the assemblies of the Nagas and other princes (v. 18). His son wa
2. Chandraraja (v. 14); his son
3. Guvaka II. (v. 14); and his son
4. Chandana, who defeated or slew in battle the Tomara prince Rudrena3 (v. 14). This prince was succeeded by his son
5. Vakpatirája, who put to flight Tantrapala, a neighbouring chief, by whom he had been attacked (vv. 15-16). And he again was succeeded by
his son
6. Simharaja. This prince, though he is said to have subdued, amongst others, a Tomara leader, who appears to have been allied with a certain Lavana, was evidently defeated by his opponents and probably slain in battle (vv. 17-19). He was succeeded by his son
2 See notes 64, 66, 68, 69, 70, 77, 79, 81 & 85.
I take this name to be equivalent to Rudrapala.
