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No. 5.]
HARAHA INSCRIPTION OF ISANAVARMAN.
(V. 2.) May the body of the Enemy of Andhaka (i.e. Śiva) grant you an eternal abodethe body of Siva which has sparkling serpents on it; bears on the forehead the slender streak of the Moon, which dispels darkness; renders the shining row of skulls brown by the lustre proceeding from his eyes; and wears the skin of a lion reddened on account of the brilliance of the jewels on the hood of serpents.
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(V. 3.) The Mukhara princes, who have vanquished their foes and checked the course of evil, are the descendants of the hundred sons whom king Asvapati got from Vaivasvata (Manu) and who were conspicuous on account of their excellences.
(V. 4.) Among them king Harivarman was first born for the welfare of the earth, who became known by the name of Jvālāmukha (or, flame-faced), as he was honoured by the foes who were struck with terror when they saw his face red on account of the lustre of fire (i.e. anger) at the time of battle and as his splendour destroyed the wealth of the enemy and his fame pervaded the intervals of all the quarters ;
(V. 5.) Whose name was worthy of fame and whose lovely excellent fame filled the worlds, while he remained, for the perpetuation of the moral laws in the world, on the path of virtue and discrimination like Manu.
(V. 6.) Like the Moon from the ocean king, Adityavarman was born from him. Getting him, the Creator obtained, as it were, the full result of his laying down the regulations of right conduct for the four castes and stages of life.
(V. 7.) When fire was kindled during his sacrificial performances, the volume of smoke' black like pitch darkness, rising on all sides and increased through the tossing and whirling produced by the wind in the sky, made the crowds of peacocks noisy, as they mistook it for a large cloud.
(V. 8.) For the obtainment of martial glory he caused the birth of Isvaravarman, the king whose soul was pure and who invoked Indra in many a sacrifice. In the pursuit of virtue other kings in their efforts failed to equal him, whose pious conduct had uprooted the character of the Kali Age and who possessed the glory of Yayāti.
(V. 9.) Qualifying his high bravery with political wisdom, his friendship by honesty, his lofty ambition by his noble descent, his liberality by fit recipients, his might of wealth by modesty, his youth by self-restraint, his speech by truthfulness, his manner of life by the injunctions of the Sruti, and his high prosperity by humility, he never felt tired in the world, though it was immersed in the darkness of the Iron Age.
(V. 10.) At whose sacrifices, when the round of the quarters was overlaid with the smoke which arose from the fire kindled constantly in accordance with the canons and which was darkly blue like streaks of collyrium, the multitude of peacocks became noisy, their minds becoming maddened; for they thought that the rainy season, having a line of clouds bending low because of the weight of the fresh water, had set in.
(V. 11.) As the Sun (rises) from the top of the Udaya mountain, as Indra is born from the Creator, as the beauteous Kaustubha jewel, which excels the moon in splendour, came out of the Milk Ocean, the illustrious king Isanavarman was born from him, the most firm abode of greatness, maintainer of stability amongst the beings, a resplendent moon in the sky of the circle of princes.
(V. 12.) By whom, as by the rising Sun, the world, which was sunk in the darkness of the Kali Age, where the paths of virtue were consequently obscured, was again set to work, he being a benefactor of the world, eclipsing the lastre of water-lilies in the fo. m of the foes, illuminating the collection of lotus-like faces of his friends, and being possessed of abuudant majestic splendour;
