Indian Antiquary Vol 05

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 95

MARCH, 1876.)
SANSKRIT AND OLD CANARESE INSCRIPTIONS.
Translation. Again and again, for the sake of supreme happiness, at Kanchi and Srisaila and Sôņâchala and Kanakasabh and Venkatadri and all other shrines and sacred places of pilgrimage, heç performed according to due rite those any charities, commencing with gold weighed out against men, which, together with all propitiatory offerings, are prescribed by tradition. He punished the angry hostile kings ; his arms were like (the coils of) the serpent Sesha||; he was earnest in protecting the earth; he was the punisher of kings who broke their promises; he satisfied those who begged of him; he was fierce in war. Being called the supreme king of kings, and being invested with the titles that commence with The supreme lord of kings; the punisher of the Marura yass; he who is ter- rible to other kings; he who is a very Sultan among Hindu kings; he who destroys the tigers that are wicked people; he who is a very Gan. dabhêrunda to the assemblage of' (elephants which are) the kings',-he is served by the kings of Anga and Va nga and Kalinga and other countries, who say "Look upon us, O great king; be victorious and live long!" He, king Krishna râ ya, -seated on a jewelled throne at the city of Vijayanayagara, and possessed of generosity, that was worthy to be praised by the learned, and ever surpassing in the art of government Nriga and other kings, baving increased abundantly the possessions of both poor and rich men, shone radiantly with fame from the mountain of the east to the slopes of the mountain of the setting sun, and from the golden mountain to the Bridge (of Râma).
By the great king Krishnad ê ya, -who, over the whole of this world, had filled the bas
$ I have two long copper-plate inscriptions of the Vijayanagan dynasty,one of Tarih arall, dated Saks 1301 (A.D. 1379-80), and one of Krishnaraya, dated Saka 1434 (A.D. 1519-3), -and another of the same kind, of Krishnaraya, dated Saka 1444 (A.D. 1522-3), is to be found in No. 6 of the photographs of copper plate inscriptions at the end of Major Dixon's collection, and another, also of Krishnarfys, dated Saka 1449 (A.D. 1527-8), is given at pp. 89 et seqq. of Vol. III of the Asiatic Researches. The language of these is so similar, that they seem to have been taken from some handbook for the ready composition of inscriptions. The first six stanzas of the present inscription are drawn from the same source; hence the abruptness with which it opens, and the use in the original of the relative pronoun without an antecedent.
Il The thousand-headed serpent, the emblem of eternity, which forms the couch and canopy on and under which Vishnu sleeps during the intervals of creation.
Soo Vol. IV, p. 332, note I. In line 8. of No. I. of
ket, which is the mundane egg, with the camphor of his fame, which was produced by his pride and generosity and firmness and bravery and other qualities, which were worthy to be applauded by poets; who was impetuons in war;' who put to scorn the achievements of Nala and Nahusha and Nabhaga and Dhundhumâra and Mândhâtâ and Bharata and Bhagiratha and Dasaratha and Rama and other kings; who effected the protection of Brahmaņs; who subdued Sultâns; who caused the fever of the elephants of (the king) Gaja pati; who had learned many accomplishments; who surpassed the Lotusbornt in power of speech; who was a second Bhôjat; who was deeply versed in the drama and poetry and rhetoric; who was acquainted with religions who every year celebrated the sacrifice of the lord of the great festival of the golden season of spring; who conferred contentment upon Brahmaņs and merchants; who was opulent; who was the highest of all kings; who was fortunate ; who was the son of Nîgâmbika and king Narasa ; who gladdened all hearts; who was victorious in the van of battle; and who, by conquest of the regions, had ascended the throne at the city of Vijayanagara, and, having put down warfare by (the strength of) his arm, was governing the whole earth, -the village that has the celebrated name of Singên â ya kanaha!!il, and which was pleasing with its four boundaries, was granted, for the purposes of the oblation that is to be made with pitcherfuls of the fruit of the Madhura and other ingredients, to (the god) who has the name of Sri-Virupaksha I, who is diligent in supporting the world, who has golden pinnacles bestowed by people who bow down before him, whose abode is on the altars of Hêmakata, and who is armed with the pikett; and by that this series we have the phrase 'Maurdyasthana', which I then translated, doubtfully, by' he who his three royal balls of sadience'. I am now inclined rather to take the expression as equivalent to Morurdyasthapan Acharya', 'the es. tablisher of the Můru kings'.
• The modern 'Adam's Bridge'.
t Brahma, who was born in the lotus that grew from the navel of Vishnu.
I A sovereign of Malwl, who flourished, it is considered, about the end of the tenth or the beginning of the eleventh century, and was a great patron of learning.
$ Kimadeva. || 6.e., 'the hamlet of Singendyaks'.
T Sive, who has an irregular number of eyes', the third eye being in his forehead.
The golden-peaked', one of the ranges of mountaing dividing the known continent into uine plains, and supposed to be situated north of the Him Alayas.
tt The usual weapon and emblem of Sivi.
the being in his
l of creand under
hote I.