Epigraphia Indica Vol 08

Author(s): E Hultzsch
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 34

No. 4.]
SRAVANA-BELGOLA INSCRIPTION OF IRUGAPA.
(V. 12.) (Once), a huge wild elephant was reflected by a beautiful fragment of glimmering moon-stone in the court of an enemy's palace, which had been deserted in a hurry through (fear of) the lord Iruga (who was) on the march. Thinking that it was a hostile elephant, he struck his image (and) broke one of his tasks, (and) was therefore) afterwards often invoked by the hosts of Votaļas (with the words) : 'Have meroy, have mercy, Gajanana !!
(V. 13.) Who is able to wipe off a letter written by the Creator on the surface of the forehead ?' In this saying we do not believe, (considering it to be) a saying made up of a liar's words, because as soon as the general Irugendra was born on earth, his friends, even if they had been without wealth, were supplied with abundant wealth, and his wealthy enemies were deprived of their wealth.
(V. 14.) While thy arm, O general Irugêndra, was carrying the burden of the earth (originally) laid on the group of the hoods of the lord Sasha, that serpent, contented, the lines of his hair always bristling with joy on account of the frequent opportunities for closely embracing his wife, used his thousandfold tongue in praising thy virtues !
(V. 15.) Plenty of food, protection from dangers, medicine and instruction became his continual gift. Acts of violence, falsehood, passion for the wives of others, theft, and infatuation kept away on account of his ruling the country.
(V. 16.) His liberality (was directed) only towards worthy persong, his pity towards the poor, his looks towards the Jina, his love towards the path of religion, his two ears towards listening to the fame of the lord of the Jinas, his tongue towards praising his virtues, the health of his body towards worshipping him, his nose towards the excessive fragrance of the lotuses of his feet, and all that was his towards serving him.
(V. 17.) While the world was made white by the fame of the general Irugapa, blackness Was praised only in connection with the hair of (women) with rolling eyes, and while his barlike arm was wearing the bracelet of the earth, mutual oppression also was spoken of only in (connection with their breasts.
(V. 18.) By their ears with their ear-rings forgotten, by the surfaces of their foreheads with no marks fixed to them, by their dishevelled curls, by their swelling breasts untouched by strings of pearls, and by their bimba-like lips deprived of the redness (caused by the betel, even the fair. eyed (wives) of the kings hostile (to him) repeatedly (and) thoroughly betray his excessive power.
(V. 19.) Since his fame, surpassing the river of the gods, has washed off, at last, the spot in her disk, the moon, being (now) perfectly clear, really swallows the beauty of the faces of the women.
(V. 20.) Who would not do homage to the ascetic (yatı), the venerable Panditärya, whose greatness is to be honoured; the grains of dust of whose foot-lotus produce a world for those who bow (to him) in devotion ;' the wave of loveliness of whose compassionate side-glances purifies the heart; the faultless fluency of whose speech destroys delusion and self-conceit.
(V. 21.) The roar of the discourse of the ascetic (yamin) Panditarya, which is a warrior (in cutting) the neck of the succession of great self-conceit, fame and skill of the pleasant and distinguished sweetness of the streams of honey of the flowers of the mandára tree, verily resembles the river of the celestial world, winding through the hollows of the braids of the dancing Rudra.
11.o. Ganeša, who has the head of an elephant, but only one tuak.
I.. the Gangå.
• The dust of the lotus-like foot of Panditarya is compared to the pollen of the lotus of Brahman which produces the world.
• I.e. the Gangå.