Epigraphia Indica Vol 08

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

Page 46

No. 5.]
TALAGUNDA INSCRIPTION OF KAKUSTHAVARMAN.
35
(Vv. 15 and 16.) He levied many taxes from the circle of kings headed by the Great Bana. So he shone, as with ornaments, by these exploits of his which made the Pallava lords knit their brows-exploits which were charming since his vow began to be fulfilled thereby and which secured his purpose- as well as by the starting of a powerful raid.
(Vv. 17 and 18.) When the enemies, the kings of Kanchi, came in strength to fight him, he - in the nights when they were marching or resting in rough country, in places fit for assault
- lighted upon the ocean of their army and struck it like a hawk, full of strength. (80) he bore that trouble, relying solely on the sword of his arm.
(V. 19.) The Pallava lords, having found out this strength of his as well as his valour and lineage, said that to ruin him would be no advantage, and so they quickly chose him even for a friend.
(V. 20.) Then entering the kings' service, he pleased them by his acts of bravery in battles and obtained the honour of being crowned with a fillet, offered by the Pallavas with the sprouts (pallava) of their hands.
(V. 21.) And (he) also received) a territory, bordered by the water of the western sea which dances with the rising and falling of its curved waves, and bounded by the (?) Prêhara, secured to him under the compact that others should not enter it.
(Vv. 22 and 23.) Of him whom Shadanana, whose lotus-feet are polished by the crowns of the assembly of the gods, anointed, after meditating on Senapati with the Mothers -- the son Was Kangavarman, who performed lofty great exploits in terrible wars, (and) whose diadem was shaken by the white chowries of all the chiefs of districts who bowed down (before him).
(V. 24.) His son was Bhagiratha, the one lord dear to the bride - the Kadamba country, Sagara's chief descendante in person, secretly born in the Kadamba family as king.
(V. 25.) Now the son of him who was honoured by kings was the earth's highly prosperous ruler Raghu, of wide-spread fame; who, having subdued the enemies, by his valour, like Prithu, caused the earth to be enjoyed by his race.7
(V. 26.) Who in fearful battles, his face slashed by the swords of the enemy, struck down the adversaries facing him; who was well versed in the ways of sacred lore, a poet, a donor, skilled in manifold arts, and beloved of the people.
(V. 27.) His brother was Bhagiratha's son Kåkustha, of beautiful form, with a voice deep as the cloud's, clever in the pursuit of salvation and the three objects of life, and kind to his lineage; a lord of men with the lion's gait, whose fame was proclaimed on the orb of the earth.
(V. 28.) Him, to whom war with the stronger, compassion for the needy, proper protection of the people, relief of the distressed, honour paid to the chief twice-born by the bestowal of)
1 Vix the attack made on him by the Pallavas.
See the introductory remarks, above, p. 29.
! With the wording of the original text I would compare e.g. from the Viråta parvan of the Maldbhdrata: ajutatdra-tamayath fshath parshan Trayodafam ; but there the meaning is the remaining 13th year, to which Ws attached the condition that they should dwell incognito. The sense of the p age in our inscription I take to be similar to that of e.g. anangaldeandm-urrim in Ragh. I. 90, the earth, not ruled by any other king.'
• Shadinana and Senapati are really only two different names of one and the same divine being (Skanda, Karttikeys).
Compare the epithet-of either the Kadambas generally or individual Kadamba kings- Sudmi. Mahdiena. mdtrigandnudhyat-Abhishikia in the copper-plates, e.g. above, Vol. VI. p. 14, line 2 of the text, and p. 18, line 8 of the text. See also above, p. 34, note 2.
• See Sir M. Monier-Williams's Dictionary under Bhagiratha and Sagara.
1 With the wording of this verse we may compare Gupta Inaer. p. 63, lines 6 and 7 of the text. The story of the earth's conquest by the mythical Prithu is well known from the Vishnupurdna.
# Pis dharma, artha and káma.