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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
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of the threefold universe, were quickly created through meditation the seven lords of creation beginning with Atri.
V. 7. Of them (the Prajapatis) Atri, the leader of the learned, practised the penance known as Anuttara for three thousand divine years with winkless eyes, without cessation. Through his prowess, of his (Atri's) noble eye was born the moon, who, a mass of light, lit up the ten directions, whose light is pleasing to the whole universe and who is the repository of nectar.
V. 8. From him, the moon of irreproachable resplendence, was born the wise one, brilliant like pure gold, a store-house of fame, who is celebrated as Budha in all the three worlds. He took for his wife Nã, the daughter of Mana.
V. 9. From him (Budha) again was born) a pious son ; who enjoyed a wondrous fame in the world, whose glory extended up to the limits of the quarters : with whom, Paruravas, Urvast of beautiful eye-brows discarding the entire body of gods lived happily for a long time here on this earth).
V. 10. His (Puräravas's) son was Āyns; from him (Ayus) sprang Nahusha; and from him (Nahusha) the famous Yayati. His (Yayati's) sons were five kings Yadu, eto. And the son of Yadu, too, was the king known as Sahasrada. From him (Sahasrada) again (sprang) Haihaya whose vast dynasty was honoured by the three worlds.
V. 11. In this dynasty gladdened by kings of ............. virtues, there was the fortunate one who had the lacky name of Kārttaviryas and who governed the earth by virtues excelling those of Prithu.
V. 12. During the reign of) that king the same path (was followed) by (all) sentient beings as (was established) by ancient custom for the universe. What more should be said, during the esteemed rule of that (king), he being equipped with a missile took immediate notice of the approach of misconduct in the very thought of his subjects, and checked it at once.
V. 13. In the family of him (Kárttavirya) of extensive glory .... there was Sankaragana of prominent appearance; to whom Purajit (Siva) being pleased instantly granted an emblem of his own.
V. 14. From him (Sankaragana), whose fame (spread) up to the ocean which is a garment of the Earth, sprang the illustrious Nannarāja whose rising power which was honoured by the universe shone intensely on account of the absence of faults like the Sun whose glorious rige worshipped by the universe shines violently at the close of the night, (and) who purifies the Earth of .........
V. 15. Whose (Nannarăja's) forces cast longing eyes on the shores of the Lord of the streams adorned with young tilaka (trees) which are exceedingly beautiful on account of the sport of rising (waves) which resemble eye-brows, which have blue lotuses for bright eyes, petals of whito lotuses for their smile and reddish (ones) for their fickle lower lips; just as damsels behold eagerly the faces of their husbands which are adorned with fresh tilaka marks, which are extremely handsome on account of the sportive and prominent knitting of brows, which have bright eyes like blue lotuses, emiles like petals of white lotages and restle-s lower lips like reddish lotuses. [The subject of the verse iपापगाना पत्या and the object is पापगाना [मुखानि] "The ocean who is the lord of the rivers, saw with surprise the faces of his wives (.e., rivers) (viz., river ouths) adorned etc...,..' by the women in his (i.e., Nannaraja's) forces."Ed.]
Prajapatis were the Maharishis whom Brahman created to assist him in the work of creation. According to the Mama-Smriti, L. 85, these sages were ten in number.
1 The Kahls plate inscription of Sodhadeva referred to above and the Harivanha, v. 1850, give Arjuna as the name of this king who was the son of Kritavirya.
