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358
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
measure to make out the Jamboe inscription. Each of the two lines shows clearly two halves, each answering to a line of Sragdhara measure consisting of three parts each of seven syllables, thus:
UV
--1
This being once established, it is necessary to find words for the doubtful places which will suit first the measure; second, as far as practicable, the sense; and third, to correspond with the traces of writing. The last two conditions, however, are too loose, and allow too much room for choice, to be a sufficient guarantee against a wrong reading. Accordingly in the following attempt at a transcription the more doubtful letters are printed in italics, while the rest are sufficiently certain :
1. Sriman nânâ-kreta-dñyo narapatir-asamo yah purâ.. aramâyâ,
2. nâmnâ Śrî-Pûrnna-varmmâ patur-arimukharabhedya (or susarâ ?) vikhyata-varmmâ,
3. tasyêdam pâda-vimba-dvayam-ari-nagarotsådanê nityadaksham,
4. bhaktânâ(ng) yat tridhâtau sugati-sukhakaranj Jyeshthablé vári mûlê.
Of which the meaning amounts to nearly this :"The illustrious, skilled in many great deeds,
Kalbadevi-the name of a main road in Bombay connecting the Esplanade with Pâyadhuni, about the middle of which is a Hindu shrine of the same name,-derives its origin from Kali or Kalika, an incarnation of Bhag a vati or Durga, and a heroine, from the triumph she achieved over the Asura Raktavija.
The Káliká Máhátmya states that the goddess, on destroying this powerful demon, was so overjoyed that, unable to restrain her feelings, she commenced to dance, and the dancing became at last so violent that the earth quaked to its very poles. The Adhyatma Rámáyána gives a description of another avatár of Kâli. It is there said that when Râma was returning home with his wife Sîtâ after the defeat of Ravana, he
[DECEMBER, 1875.
matchless prince who aforetime (ruled in)... arama with the name of H. H. Purnṇavarm mâ, the brave whose weapons were renowned, invulnerable to hostile assailants (or to the enemy's best darts ?): Of him is this pair of footprints at all times capable to destroy hostile cities. Which footprints supplied blessing and enjoyment to those who belong to the division of the three constellations Jyeshtha, Wâri (or first Asâḍhâ), and Múla."
WORDS AND PLACES IN AND ABOUT BOMBAY. BY DR. J. GERSON DA CUNHA. (Continued from vol. III. p. 295.)
For the last syllable md I am obliged to read pú; and in the place where the syllables bhé va must stand I can
In illustration of this last clause, which admittedly rests on a mere conjecture, Prof. Kern remarks that space is divided into nine spokes or divisions, corresponding to our eight cardinal points and the zenith, each swayed by three constellations, of which the three mentioned represent the west. The meaning therefore should be that the representation of the feet-for páda vimba leaves it doubtful whether the prints be intended literally-is to be contemplated as a sanctuary of blissful influence for the inhabitants of the west (of Java). However this may be, so much at least is certain, that here reference is also meant to a footprint of the same person who is mentioned on the stone of Charoenten.
Leulen, 26th May 1875.
was all the way talking to her about his great exploits, which Sitâ finding rather vain-glorious remarked that he had only vanquished a Ravana of ten heads, or Dashânana, but she doubted very much whether he could kill one with a thousand. This remark instigated Rama to challenge this Ravana of a thousand heads, whom, however, he was unable to destroy; and Sitâ, to avoid disgrace to her husband, intervened, assumed the form of K âli, and killed him.
The legend goes on to state that this feat took place in a city named Mahim âpurî, where the demon resided. This Mahimapuri is supposed to correspond to modern Mahim, and the narrative is possibly an allusion to some
not possibly find a place for them, though, according to the metre, two long syllables must be supposed there.
