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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XVIII.
(V. 13.) As she fully equalled the high degree of beauty of Lakshmi born from the churning of the Milk Ocean, the greatness of wifely devotion present in Gauri, (and) the series of graces of speech of the charming lady Vak, who on this earth now are peer to Däsirkja's beloved Bhagale P
(L. 27.) Their sons :
(V. 14.) Fortune abode with great delight in his house; the lady Vák adorned with magnificence resided in his mouth; his goodly fame completely filled (every place) from Sēta to the great Snowy Mountains: hence was Dāsirāja's son lord Mahadeva,' that gem-mine of nobility, an ordinary man ?
(V. 15.) Like Dhruva in firmness, like the Lotus-born (Brahman) in eloquence, like the comely Mädbava in his form, like the Sun in bounty, like the Jar-born (Agastya) in right conduct, like the ocean in profundity, when one considers--what men are equal to the sheriff Dāsirija's son Malayya ?
(L1, 33-34.) On Monday, the end of the dark fortnight of Pushya in the cyclic year Chitrabhānu, the 1084th (year) of the blessed Saks era, on the holy lunar day of the uttarayana-sankranti,
(Ll. 34-42.) As the temple of Kēšava of Nagarakhapdi was falling into decay, the sheriff Dāsirāja, having restored the decayed parts and reconsecrated it, adored with (offering of) money the divinely blest lotus-feet of the Thousand Mahajanas, headed by the mayor, of the great agrahara of Pali and for the restoration of broken, barst, and decayed (masonry of the templo) of that god and for the regular oblations, Chaitra-pavitra ritos, perpetual lampe, and stipend for the officiating priest, purchased and granted six mattar within the waste-land hasuge of Kokkuligēri, on the west of Kattiyagēri, on the north of the field of Galatige, (and) on the east of the sanctuary of the Chikkanikas' god, on which is to be paid an aru-vana at the rate of one pana on each mattar.
(LI. 42-46.) Having again adored the Thousand with (offering of) gold, they purchased and granted to the same god a dwelling one cubit in width and eleven in length in the meyya sthala north of Kalafavalligēri, east of the traders' house at the backyard of the townhouse, as a sarva-namasya holding. So the Thousand shall religiously protect this monastery and field in respect of any minor claims to possession that may arise.
(V. 16.) Realise this with conviction : the great sinner who comes to overthrow this pions foundation will inevitably sink to levels of (degraded) rebirth, together with his race; Bo to the king who cheerfully guards it in due wise shall accrue increase of vitality, most brilliant fortune, stainless fame, luck, welfare, happiness. (V. 17: a common Sanskrit formula.)
M.-OF THE REIGN OF BIJJALA: SAKA 1084. This inscription is on a black stone built into the northern wall on the inside of the mandapa of the Agnatybvar temple (see above). The slab is 4 ft. 10 in, high and 2 ft. 2 in, wide. The topmost compartment bears the following sculptures : in the centre, Vishņu reclining on a serpent with seven hoods, with Brahman seated above him on the lotus arising from his navel, and to his proper left Lakshmi seated at his feet; below Vishnu, Garuda; to the proper right of Vishņu a goddess (Earth or Sarasvati !), seated and facing full front; to his proper right, a Cow and calf; over these, the gun (to left) and moon (to right). Below these is the inscribed area, 3 ft. 1 in, high and 2 ft. 1 in, wide. It is in good preservation. The character is fair Kaarese of the period, the letters being from fin, toin, high. The language is Old Kanarese, with an introductory and a final verse in Sanskrit. The Kanarese verses are richer in vocabulary By metrical license for Mahadeva.
See Vishpon-purana, I. xi-xii. Bee I. 4., VOL. XXXVIII, p. 52. . [V. 2 of this inscription would indicate that she is the Earth-goddess. -Ed.]