Epigraphia Indica Vol 12

Author(s): Sten Konow
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 61

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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XII.
have been valiant, yet mild, and who was a great poet and a learned man. In verses 7-8 we get a description of the second Varman, Jatavarman, the son of Vajravarman, who is said to have been famous for his mercy, heroism and charity, and to have extended his paramount power, by putting many heroes to shame and conquering the province of Kamarupa (Assam). It is in this eighth verse that we get some clue to the contemporaneous history of the times when Jatavarman flourished. I have readily adopted the valuable suggestions of my venerable friend Mr. Akshayakumara Maitreya, B.L., Director of the Varendra Research Society, about some of the names of persons and places of historical importance that occur in this verse. Mr. Maitreya is of opinion that Virasri, who, in the next verse, is said to have been the queen of Jatavarman and mother of king Samalavarman, was a daughter of Karna and it is for this reason that the poet has used the phrase parinayan Karnnasya Virasriyam in verse 8. Mr. Maitreya invited my attention to verse 9, canto I., in Sandbyakara Nandin's Rama-charital (history of king Ramapala of Gauḍa), wherefrom we know that this Karpa, undoubtedly the Kalachuri (Chedi) Karna of the 11th century, whose copper-plate grant is dated 1042 A.D., gave another daughter of his, named Yauvanasri, in marriage to king Vigrahapala III., with a view to please His Majesty after he (Karna) had sustained a defeat in the field of battle. The second point of historical value which Mr. Maitreya brought to my notice is the identification of the name of Divya in the compound word divya-bhuja-śriyam (V. 8) with Divya or Divvōka, the leader of the Kaivarta revolt, who killed Mahipala II., son of Vigrahapala III., in battle and occupied Varendri, the janakabhu, birth-place, of the Pála kings (cf. Rama-carita, canto I, 29, 31-39). Kamarupa (Assam) is described as having been conquered by this Jatavarman (paribhavams tām Kāmarupa-śriyam v. 8). It is very probable that Jatavarman might have availed himself of this opportune moment of the revolt in Varendri of the Kaivartas under Divya, for proceeding towards Kamarupa and bringing the province under his own sway. I am unable at present to identify with absolute certainty the name of Govardhana referred to in the third line of this verse. May he be the father of Bhatta Bhavadeva who was the Prime Minister of king Harivarman of East Bengal? For some of these suggestions I wish to express my in iebtedness also to the newly-published Bengali work, Gauḍa-rajamälä from the able pen of my esteemed friend Mr. Ramaprasada Chanda, B.A., Hon. Secretary, Varendra Research Society. Verse 9 describes Samalavarman, son of Jatavarman and Virasri, as one whose name was a blessing to the world. The last line of this verse seems to mention another person, the poet's master (prabhu). In verse 10, we are told that he had a son Udayin, who must have been a great warrior, whom none could approach in the battle-field, who saw only his own face reflected in front, in his own sword'. In verses 11-12, his daughter Malavyadevi is described. She was exceedingly beautiful and was married to king Samalavarman, though his harem was full of the daughters of numerous kings'. Verses 13-14 are in praise of king Bhojavarman, the donor of the grant. Considering the historical time as deduced from the contents of verse 8, one may feel inclined to take the mention of the Rakshasas of verse 14, to refer to the wars of king Rama (Ramapala) who regained the kingdom of Varendri from the hands of the Kaivartas after defeating them in battle. It is, therefore, most befitting on the part of the court-poet Purushottama (verse 15) to invoke blessings on king Bhojavarman at this juncture, and to wish that he may become the overlord of Lanka, i.e. defeat and oust the Rakshasas, the destroyers of peace. The sixteenth verse in lines 50-51 is one of the usual imprecatory verses. From line 24 to 49, the inscription is in prose.
Memoirs of the Beng. As. Soc., Vol. III, No. 1. Ep. Ind., Vol. II, p. 297 ff. Cf. the prafasti of Bhavadeva. Ep. Ind., Vol. VI, pp. 203 ff.