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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
VOL. VI,
(V. 6.) From him (vis. Anandatirtha), who was very experienced in well protecting men, has obtained the knowledge of duty he (vis. Naraharitirtha), who protects the people born in the Kalinga country both in the next (world) and in this; who as a (dutiful) son follows the profession of his father, practising high politics in a righteous manner (and) himself facing the frightened garrisons (P) of the fortresses of crowds of hostile kings;
(V. 7.) And who, being devoted exclusively to the great service of the lord of Srikamatha, holds, in order to prevent the ruin of this temple), an excellent sword (which is) a thunderbolt to the mountains, the bands of Sabaras,- (but) the proper action of which was totally imperceptible because no victim was left, the enemy having lost his life through its (mere) flashing.
(V. 8.) This best of sages, called the holy Naraharitirtha, a man-lion incarnate, who is to be worshipped by those who possess the power of Prahlada' in the Kali age, -
(V. 9.) Hail! in the prosperous Saka year joined with the fires (3), the sky (0), the pair (2), and the earth (1),--(i.e. 1903),- in (the month of) Mesha, on the day of the mooncrested (Śiva), in the bright (fortnight), and on an excellent Wednesday, - having built a temple in front of the lord of Kamatha, consecrated (therein) with pleasure this god YoganandaNộisimha, the bestower of bliss.
POSTSCRIPT Professor Kielhorn very kindly contributes the following remark on the date of the preceding inscription :
"In Saka-Samvat 1203 expired the 8th tithi of the bright half in the month of Megha ended 6 h. 23 m. after mean sunrise of Saturday, the 29th March A.D. 1281; and in Saka-Samvat 1203 current the same tithe ended 3 h. 37 m. after mean sunrise of Tuesday, the 9th April A.D. 1280. As all the other inscriptions of Naraharitirtha (see below) quote expired Baka years, the day intended by the date would be expected to be Saturday, the 29th March A.D. 1281; but if it were so, the word Saumye of the date would have to be altered to Saurêre (.e. of Satar')."
Besides this inscription, the Vaishnava temples at Srikūrmam and Simhachalam (in the Vizagapatam district) contain five other insoriptions recording gifts by Narabaritirtha. I gubjoin their dates, which Professor Kielhorn has been good enough to calculate as well.
1.In the Kurmêsvara temple at Srikûrmam. 5 U(a)na-chaturdasa-varshồ dvadasa-sata-vatsar [1] 6 Kanys-mad-site pakshe trayodasyam Kavêr=ddinê [lli 9 Svasti Sri-Saka-varashambulu 1186 n=entti
10 Kanya-kri(kpi)shna 13 Sukravaramuna ..... * In the (Saka) year twelve hundred less fourteen years, in the month of Kanye, in the dark fortnight, on the thirteenth tithi, on Friday."
"On Friday, the 13th (tithi) of the dark (fortnight) of Kanya in the Saka year 1186."
For Saka-Samvat 1186 expired the date corresponds to Friday, the loth September A.D. 1204, when the 13th tithi of the dark half ended 20 h. 23 m. after mean sunrise. The day by the Arya-siddhanta was the 23rd day of the month of Kanya.-F. K.
1 It follows from this statement that both Naraharitirths and his father were ministers of the king of Kalinga.
I... Srlkdrmam; compare above, Vol. V. p. 85, note 1.
* By this the poet means to say that Naraharitfrtha, though he wore a sword, was not put to the necessity of nsing it and thereby avoided incurring the sio of destroying life.
• PrablAds was the son of the demon Hira yakalipa who was killed by Vishnu in his Nrisimha avaldra. . I.e. the eighth tithi; see above, Vol. V. p. 168, uote 4.
No. 869 of 1896.