Epigraphia Indica Vol 13

Author(s): Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 44

No. 3.]
INSCRIPTIONS FROM BELGAUM: A, OF A.D. 1204.
23
(Verse 4)-To this lord Sēna, who was known as the monarch of the realm of excelent Kündi, was (born) a son whose prowels terrified irresistible hostile kings, Kārtavirya (III), peerless in valour.
(Verse 5)-Of this lord the good wife was Padmavati, a second Padmavatil in fostering the Jain doctrine, a Lakshmi admired by sages, even as of the Thunderbolt-bearer (the wifo wws) Puloma's daughter (Sachi).
(Verse 6)-To this couple was born king Lakshma (Lakshmidēva Il, adorned by the diadems of lords of earth, as is born to the bounteous Ocean and the ricer) Tambraparņa the flawless pearl.
(Verse 7)-How shall I describe the grandeur of the arm of king Lakshmidēva ? Hostile lords of the earth, afraid of the redness of the evening (sky) because they decmel it the red dust caused by the trond of his warriors' foot, and of the roar of the settling cloud because they deemed it the rattling of his horses' hoofs, nerer rested in their various scats-0 hearken! and were constantly floeing away at all times.
(Versc 8)-The punitivo policy of kings consists in) detecting offenders ; happily, when Lakshma, the lord of earth, was reigning with mighty authority, neither offence nor punishment existed, so skilful was he!
(Verso 9)-When the Creator in the course of his magic, quite putting aside Fortune born from the Ocean of Nectar, created a second (l'ortune), he assigued to Krishna' as mate the fickle (Fortune), and graciously bestowed this secon) most constant lady of stainless exalted estate upon Lakshmidēva, highest of the company of sovereigas: to such an exceeding degree did Chandrikādevi display beauty.
(Verse 10)-Are any men on earth collectively able to extol (adequately) the series of virtue of the good lady Chandrikā, treasure of famed fortune ? As she won by ber virtue the approval of the monarch Lakshma, prince of chivalry, if she had engaged the king of serpents, he.-look you !-knowing the merits of her character, would have been able to extol her with the whole series of his tongues.
(Verse 11)-When Chandaladēvi, the good wife of king Lakshmidēva, flourished on earth and with her model hand bestowed gold on an occasion of a sankranti, the black colour of the incrustation on the gold, appearing in connection with her fingers, seemed like a bee thirsting for the flowers of her nails of terrestrial coral upon the creeping plants of desire which were her
arms.
(Verse 12)-To king Lakshma, who was like the blessed Vasudeva, and to this renowned Chandaladēvi, who was illustrious as the flawless princess Dovaki, were (bom) sons like Baladeva and Kēšava, the controllers of the circling earth, (namely) Kartavirya [IV], lord of the earth, and the young prince Mallikarjuna, (toho were) endowed with abundant valour.
(Verse 13)-When Kārtavirya, firm in valour, advanced with his host to conquer the regions of the world, and other lords of earth, turning their backs, plunged into the water, it evaporated through the heat of their bodies, and (again) swelled through the waves of sweat streaming forth under the influence of the emotion of intense terror arising in their minds: men in error averred that this was the ebb and flow of a real ocean.
(Verse 14)-"This desirable troop of steeds, this troop of elephants, this company of damsels, were ours; (but) in contests of elephants, in battles in the open field, in strife of opposing hosts, this man, this hero Kārtavirya, has taken them!"-thus ruefully reflects the crowd of his enemies sitting in the house of bondage.
A tutelary goddess of the Jain church More correctly : Vishnu,
* And, secondarily". Lakshmi admired by Budha."