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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[Vol. XV.
(Verse 44.) After creating the noble-minded Seven Sages Hiranyagarbha [Brahman) was still not satisfied ; on creating as eighth Somēsvarārya for the maintenance of scriptural lore, he became perfectly satisfied.
(Verse 45.) The patent tree of desire Sömēšvara, adorned with many branches (of Vedic study), honoured by troops of good men (or, constantly haunted by bees), skilful in bestowing all things desired, is brilliant with the splendour of the sage (or, of flowers).
(Verse 46.) Adored by king Tribhuvanamalla with his entire fortunes, he caused many lectures on the lore of the moon, the sun, and the Vodas to be held, constructing delightful palaces in town after town and settling good Brāhmaṇs therein ; truly there can be no other man of skill like to him either on earth or in heaven.
(Verse 47.) What is the use of these many verses of praise in detail ? In him is a multitude of virtues, bounty and the rest, (and) not in the least degree a number of faults; truly such a man there has never been hitherto, there is not now, and there will not be in time to come.
(Verse 48.) The sun may fall from the sky upon the earth, or fire then may be cold, or the moon hot, or the earth may stagger about, there may be darkness in light, if ever even from ignorance false speech should issue from the blest sage Somēsvare's lotus-mouth, or he should ever neglect propriety.
(Verse 49.) We handle boiling water, we strike with the hand a great snake placed in a jar, or we may well mount the balancel ; everything else that is difficult here we do. The bountiful Sõmēsvarārgs protects those who seek his protection, being self-controlled, calm, appreciative of good, true to his troth; there is no other man who is adorned with the series of all virtues.
(Verse 50.) Winning desires (or, destroying Cupid), crest-jewel of eminent Brahmaps [or, bearing as crest-jewel the moon), associated with righteousness (or, riding a bull), followed by victory (or by Jaya®], the blest Sõmēsvara, possessing the charm of Isvaras, has protected sages.
(Verse 51.) The General Sõmēsvara is a crest-jewel of the congregations of Brahmans, a wishing-gem to dependents, a protective jewel to seekers of refuge : such is his fame that has overspread the earth.
(Verse 52.) When sages, escaping in miserable plight from this great distress, come for refuge to the General Söměsvara, they inmediately attain exceeding prosperity, of a surety.
(Verse 53.) As he invites congregations of sages and gives them more than the wealth desired by them, in their admiration of sömēsvara the tree of desire and the wishing-gem have become merely) a stone and a tree (in comparison toith him).
(Verse 54.) (He is, like the moon,) a cause of prosperity to the circle of earth [or, a cause of the blooming of lotuses), possessing exceeding white rays of fame, arousing longing in the lorn, snrrounded by a troop of good poets and sages (or, by the company of the goodly Jupiter and Mercury]*; hence where on earth has there been fame like that of Somēsvara P
(Verse 55.) What indeed should I praise ? the multitude of holy deeds done by this) creator of honour for the Brihmap race, & Kanina (Karpa) in bounty, (or their) exceeding
1 These are specimens of ordoals, on which we Jolly, Recht und Sitte (Bühler's Grundris), pp. 144-R. The present passage proves that my oxplanation of vijita-ghafa-sarppa-made in the Belgaoin inser. B, 1. 13 (above Vol. XIIL Pp. 29, 82) is incorrect. The idea of the verse is that ordinary mortals can do wonderful things at a pinch, but Sõmesvara habitually practises virtues that are beyond their power.
* One of the attendants of Umi.
The double meanings of the epitheta are intended to convey the idea of this likeness,
