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No. 12.]
JODHPUR INSCRIPTION OF PRATIHARA BAUKA; V. S. 894.
99
(Verse 28). What other king but Bāuka, while his authority over other kings was destroyed, his own younger brothers and ministers had left him and his army on all sides was seized with terror, could, upaided, stand firm like a pillar, and, leaving the horse-back and standing on the ground unperturbed, sword in hand, pierce the enemy through and through, causing thereby a terrible burial ground in that battlefield ?
(Verse 29). After having dispersed the recent gathering of the newly formed confederation, and killed Mayüra, Båuka, the lion among men, killed the army which was supporting waves of swords.
(Verse 30). Whose mind would not now be filled with terror on remembering the house of dead made by Bāuka's sword, which ere long was put in confusion by the enemy's host-the house of dead which was made by the arms, thighs, legs and other limbs, rent in twain, with oozing as well as bloodless cavities, together with the entrails hung above, and which was full of jackals?
(Verse 31). Verily, when Bauka was dancing in the battle-field, placing his feet on the very entrails and other parts of the dead bodies, the frightened men (enemies) who were like deer, became quiet as it were with strain tishtha, tishthal. This indeed was very strange!
(L. 21). The year 894, (the month of) Chaitra, the fifth day of the bright fortnight. (L. 22). Engraved by Krishnēsvara, son of the gold-smith Vishnuravi.
No. 13.-THE GWALIOR PRASASTI OF THE GURJARA-PRATIHARA KING
BHOJA.
By R. C. MAJUMDAR, M.A., PH.D.; DACCA. The stone which bears this inscription was discovered in 1896, about half a mile west of Gwalior town, at Sågar Täl in the Gird-Gwalior district. It contains 17 lines of writing covering a space of about 3' 41" broad by 1' 2" high. The first twelve lines are incised with great care and neatness and the letters are so distinct and beautiful that they can be read without hesitation even from a distance. The remaining lines, for some unaccountable reasons, are not so distinctly engraved, but can be read, without any great difficulty, especially from the reverse side of the estampage. The whole inscription is thus clearly legible except two letters at the end of line 5 where the stone surface is damaged.
It was first edited by Pandit Hirananda in the Arch. Suru. Report for 1903-4 (pp. 277-285), with a facsimile Plate. Then, in March. 1905 Dr. Kielhorn gave a short account of the inscription in Nachrichten von der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göt. tingen (pp. 300-304) without any reference to the first edition. I re-edit the inscription from fresh impressions kindly procured for me by Prof. D. R. Bhandarkar, M.A. My excuse in taking up the subject again, is that, in my opinion, the great historical importance of the record requires further scrutiny and comment. I follow the previous Editors as far as possible but give my independent opinion only in cases where I feel it necessary to do so.
The language of the inscription is Sanskrit, and except the benedictory formula om namo Vishnavē at the beginning, it is throughout composed in metrical form. The author shows himself to be well versed in the best form of the Kavya style, and his chaste dignified verses make one sincerely regret that no further production from his able pen has been preserved for us. Special attention may be drawn to the ease with which flēshas and dhvanis have been frequently introduced into this historical poem.
[The word lishtha is onomatopatie. As one plunges bis lege in miry ground and lifts them up with force, the steps are likely to inake the noise tishtha, tishtha - Ed.]
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