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No. 24.) GADAG INSCRIPTION OF VIKRAMADITYA VI: THE 23RD YEAR. 361
wondrousness? In his extension of charity-houses, in (his) practice of bestowing lands on Brāhmans, in his foundation of) monastic establishments for Vedic and other studies there is no intermission whatever on the bright earth.
(Lines 47-50.) Hail ! He who is observant of the major and minor disciplines, scriptural study, meditation, spiritual concentration, practice of silence, prayer, and absorption, possessing all titles of honour such as "knowing the principles of the matters of the Voda, a modern Säkalya, a mine of the gems of the Rig-vēda, skilled in the eighteen books of religious lore, wishing tree to dependents, a support to kinsfolk, an abundance of joy to cultured and agreeable persons, purifying the Mauna götra, friend of the Vēdas, full of compassion for the wretched and unprotected, a Mēru in dignity, uniform in speech, immovable in firmness, an Añjaneya [Hanuman) in purity, walking in the path of Manu, a coral-tree to scholars," the High Minister (and) General who is king Tribhuvanamalla's chaplain, the Reverend Sömēsvara Bhattopadhyāya -
(Verse 56.) This wise Somēģvarărya, in order to establish his own religion on earth for as long as the moon and stars (endure), turned his attention to Lokkigundi.
(Verse 57.) The town which is glorious with the name of Lokkigundi is a holy mine of Brahmaps, an ornament of the provinces of earth, skilful in the work of undoing the powers of Kali; and in it the sky is encompassed by multitudes of banners on lines of temples and the earth crowded with boundless posts radiant in ranks of sacrifices.
(Verse 58.) In this blessed Lokkigundi dwell Brāhmaṇs enjoying the combination of the essentials of good religion, wealth, and pleasure, learned in the Vedas and other lore, devoted to the attainment of the supreme end, the rays of whose fame, pale yellow like jasmine-pollen, swell forth, assuming the form of clouds, upon the walls of space, so as to eclipse the radiance of moonshine.
(Verse 59.) Right victorious is this town known as the blessed Lokkigundi, which wears the brilliant splendour of a beauty-spot of the Lady Earth upon her face, the Belvala land.
(Verse 60.) On this earth is seen or known by repute no town equal to this, which because of its righteous Brāhmaṇs is like the world of Brahman, which because of its pleasureful multitudes of dwellings of divers gods is like the realm of Paradise, which by reason of its bazaars, rich in wealth and full of chapmen, is like the realm of Kubeza.
(Verse 61.) Inasmuch as there is brought thence for their bodily enjoyment treasure of sandal-wood, camphor, various garments, rubies, pearls, and so forth, its purpose in consummated by the several graces of kings.
(Verse 62.) As there are in it exceedingly many means for attaining the various objects of mankind, 1 the whole population is therefore gladdened ever by the accomplishment of the objeots of mankind, and knows forsooth no sorrow,
(Verse 63.) What man of small merit wins the right to behold and adore there the peerless assembly of those Brāhmaṇs hy whose fame the ten regions of space are whitened, by the multitudes of whose oblations cast into the fire in sacrifices the gods are satiated, by the sounds of whose recital of the Vödas the whole world has been purified ?
(Verse 64.) After he had created in the heavens the worlds of Paradise and the rest, the Creator, displaying his skill in the creation of towns, created here this one, and does not trouble himself to sreate any other : verily there exists no equal town (made) by him.
(Vurs) 65.) The man who has heard of the wealth of its excellences will be right eager to sou it; the person why Las seeu it endeavours in his desire for happiness to dwell therein ; ho
Namely religion, wealth, earthly desire, and spiritual salvation.
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