________________
103
APPENDIX] RAJAPRASASTI INSCRIPTION OF UDAIPUR
At the end are given the date of the completion of the kāvya as also of the lake, viz., V.S. 1732, Măgha pūrnimā, Thursday (20th January, 1676 A.D), the date of commencement, viz., V.S. 1718, Magha vadi 7, Wednesday (1st January, 1662 A.D.), names of masons, eto., eto.
Slab X; Canto IX
Invocation to Krishna, the uplifter of Mount Govardhana. In the year 1698, when Jagatsimha was reigning, Rājasimha, in his heir-apparency, at the age of twelve, went to the fort of Jaisalamēra for his marriage. It was at that time that he conceived the idea of constructing a lake, finding the area covered by the following sixteen villages as fit for that purpose : Dhõdhundā, sanavāda, Sivāli, Bhigārvadā, Mörchanā, Pasömda, Khedi, Chhäparakhödika, Täsõla, Mödāvaraka. Bhina. Luhanaka, Värnaõla, Gudhali, Kāmkaroli and Matha. Afterwards when he had become king, in the month of Märgaśīrsha in the year 1718, he went to see the deity Rūpanārāyana,' and on that occasion he re-inspected the land with a view to starting the construction of the lake. He consulted his priest in the matter and the latter assured that the scheme would mature if three pre-requisites are ensured, namely full faith, friendship with the lord of Dilli and abundant funds. And these there were. The work was thus taken in hand. The Räņēmdra (Rājasimha) undertook to dam the Gömati river between two big hills. A start was made on the auspicious day of Wednesday, the 7th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Magha in the year 1718 (Wednesday, 1st January, 1662 A.D). Sixty thousand workmen were employed for digging the earth conneotion with the construction of the dam. The Mahārāņā (Rājasimha) used to supervise he work himself, as befitted the great enterprise. He divided the work into various sections and entrusted them to different chiefs. Immense quantities of water had to be removed for laying good foundations of the dam, and for that purpose different devices were employed. The water so removed was led to the neighbouring villages for the purpose of irrigation. That converted them into flourishing towns. In the year 1721, on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of the month of Vaisakha, Monday (Monday, 17th April, 1665 A.D., year being Srāvaņādi) the foundations of the dam were laid by Ranachhödarāya, the eldest son of the priest Garibadāsa.
Slab XI; Canto X
Invocation to Hari, the Dvārakānātha ! Rājasimha built a palace on the mount Suvarnakaila, & veritable fortress. In the year 1726, on the 10th-the Pado dafami day in the month of Märgaśīrsha, the king observed the opening ceremony of the palace.
In the year 1726, on the 2nd day of the dark half of the month of Kārttika, the king Rājasimha made the following two great gifts to Brāhmaṇas: (a) Mahābhūtagbața, composed of a hundred palas of gold, accompanied by five Kalpadrumas, each composed of a hundred palas of gold or silver ?), (b) Hiraṇyāśvaratha', costing one thousand silver coins, i.e., rupees. The two gifts cost him altogether 11,670 rupees.
In the year 1726, on the 13th day of the bright half of the month of Vaisakha, the king fixed the auspicious day (muhurta) for the inauguration of the dam at the town of Kamkarol. The lofty dam consisted of big stone slabs, cemented with lime. In the year 1726, in the months of Jyēstha and Ashādha, the water of the lake increased considerably on account of rain. The main
Rajasimha married Krishnakumari, daughter of Raval Manohardäs of Jaisalmer. * The Vishnu temple of Räpanarayana is in the village of Sevantri, not far from Kankroli. • The Gomati rises from the eastern hills of the Arāvall range and discharges its waters in lake Dhobara. • This refers to the palace at Rajnagar, near the lake.
See note to the Text. . For these mahädanas see Hemadri, Chaturvarga-Chintamani, Danakhapda (ed. A.S.B.), pp. 342, 279 and 287.