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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1880.
questions) the young wives of the Siddhas (made Pramathas, this great, beautiful, brilliant the lotus) a pleasant object of their guesses. silver lotus, which resembles the lotus forming
23. "Forsooth this is not a lotus composed of Brahman's seat, and wide extends its expanding (common) fibres; I am made of silver by the petals, and as out of devotion I have given to king. How, oh men, can the two lotuses of my mother that merit, which I obtained (thereby) Sri and of Brahman, which do not possess a from Pasupati." fresh brilliancy, rival me? On the broad earth (The above is) the king's own (composition.) not one (flower) like to me is found, neither 1 29. "Is this a lotus from Ganga's stream, in the delighted hearts of men," nor in (lake) which was growing in the water on Sambhu's Man asa; neither the brilliant sun, nor the head ? Or is it) a lotus that has come desiring day nor the lake produces any difference in me." | to see the water-roses, newly opened in beaven?
24. Thus the lotus spake as if it were proud Or is it a beautiful, lovely row of cars of the of its beauty, showing, in derision, its golden blessed gods? Or is it the lotus descended stamina, comparable to a row of teeth dyed bril. from the hand of compassionate Loke svara liant red with minium, to all lotuses in this (i.e. Aralókiteśvara)?” world.
(The above verse is the king's (own composi25. "Thinking that this throne on which tion.) the deity rests, golden like Mount Meru, was sur. 30. “Is this the descending stream of rounded by the imperishable (seven) primeval heavenly Ganga, beautifal on account of its mountains covered by snow (the king) himself restless waves ? Or is it the lotus from which caused an exceedingly resplendent silver lotus Brahman sprang, come to see the best of earthly with brilliant, wide-opened petals to be made lotuses? Or has the pure moon placed on Siva's for the worship of Pasu pati."
forehead approached this spot ?" Such doubts (The above verse is) the king's (own composi
arose in the minds of the people, when they tion.)
gazed on it with wondering wide-opened eyes. 26–27. "That most worshipful Sthâņu,
31. This very precious silver lotus, placed whom Brahman, possessed of manifest glorious
over Hara's (Linga), together with the lotuses. majesty, lauds with his four months, whom which on all sides surround it to do it honour, six-faced (Kumára) bowing at his feet, praises
has been dedicated by illustrious Vatsad evi, with his six months, whom ten-headed (Ravana) the mother of the king. eren glorified by hymns from his ten mouths, 32. The merit (which her son gained) by whom Vásuki with glittering necks worships
dedicating the chief lotus, that is resplendent devoutly, singing his praise with a thousand like the rays of the moon and presented to tongues, shines even through qualities that are her, as well as the merit which she herself opposed to each other. For though, according obtained by worshipping the lotus with (gifts of) to report, a supreme lord, he wears the sky silver, illustrious Vatsad evi, who is pure in As his garment, he pervades (the universe), thought as becomes her race, has presented to and (still is) exceedingly small; though praised her husband, the deceased king, for his welfare. as the giver of welfare, he is the destroyer (of 33. What man of noble race would shamethe world); though he is one, he possesses lessly praise his own virtues ? Though the eight bodies; and though he is revered by gods king is a true poet, he has not composed the and demons, he dances shamelessly."
verses in honour of his own race. With the (The last of these two verses is) the king's (own exception of five verses, which the clever prince composition.)
himself composed right well, Buddhakirti, 28. “May I obtain salvation, as I have out of affection for the king, wrote the above caused to be made in honour of that Lord of the original (eulogy).
"Hindus always speak of the lotus of the soul, which has five petals of various colours, symbolical of the pas. sions.
The poet tries to prove that the lotus resembled the shrine of Pasopati. As the latter is of gold, so the centre also of the lotus is golden, and as the temple is surrounded by snowy mountains, so the petals of the lotus are made of silver,
" At preeent, too, a iarge silver lots in a square frame is suspended by a chain from the ceiling just above the Linga of Pasupati. In shape it exactly resembles the picture at the head of the inscription. It is possible that it dates from Jayadeva's time, and is identical with the one described in this inscription.
50 See above v. 28.
