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206 EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXIX Though the line is hypermetrical, its rhythm is not in any way interfered with by the extra syllable us the accent here falls on the secondi iong syllable. Whilo reciting the line the existenca of the first syllable is practically obliterated. From this point of view the line may also be considered to agree with the definition of Nāgavarma. Instances of the occurrence of such hypormetrical syllable are found in some of the literary works. The following is a couplet by Pampa (941 A. C.)':
Naneya | koneya |
tasira!
tā ni
kunja
diń
mwyula | vana-lii
2 rajada puñjal
Prasūna
din
The whole verse contains thirteen such couplets. The first foot of the second line of every couplet has one extra syllable at the beginning, the accent falling on the subsequent long syllable. Similarly Kumudēndu (c. 1275 A. C.) has composed a ragale comprising 49 such couplets. The following is a sample :
2 3 4 5 6
7 Janaka | tanaye! -yūga | agra | iang-al tiva harsha |' dim
1 -
2 - 3 Mudakru pūra
varsha
dim
* It is thus clear that the composer of our inscription attached more importance to the rhythmic effect than to the 'rules regulating this metre; his is a creative effort. The record is of unique value in the history of Kannada metrics. The utsäha verse found here is the only one of its kind known so far in Kannada literature and epigraphy.
The inscription opens with a Sanskrit verse which states that to Gautama, who was renowned in the three worlds, was born Saradvat. Saradvat's brother was Santanu whose son was Kpipa. After many kings born in the lineage of Kripa down to Salya had passed away, Jayasimha, the crest-jewel among the Kshatriyas, is stated to be victorious, i.e., ruling. He was the abode of the goddesses of Fortune, Learning and Victory. The king is then stated to have made a gift of a piece of land situated in the vicinity of Puttur to Mochabbarasi as kanyādāna, i.e., gift to damsel. The land which was barren and rocky was converted into fertile field by Mochabbarasi. She constructed a house, laid & garden and had a moat dug around the place. After the usual imprecation on those who attempt to destroy the charity, the record ends with a statement to the effect that the right of succession to the ownership of the land should devolve on the female children in the lineage of the excellent Jógavve and not on the male offspring; and that in case there were no female issues the right will pass to the male children.
We have no means of ascertaining the family to which the chief Jayasimha, the donor of the grant, belonged or the exact period of his rule. The fact that he does not bear any title indicative of paramountcy would point to the conclusion that he was a local chief. However, we know of a ruler named Jayasingarasa whose inscription is found at Kariangaļa (Ammunaje) near Mangalore. He bears the titles Somakulatilaka, Pandya-Mahārājādhiraja, Paramēsvara and Paramabhattāraka. As these titles are usually associated with the later Alupas, the chief Jayasingarasa of the record has been taken to be a scion of this family though the record in question does not specifically call
Pampa-Bharata, I-58. "Kumudēndu Ramayana, IV-after 98. .SI1, Vol. IX, part i, ins, No. 399.
