________________
APRIL, 1886.)
SANSKRIT AND OLD-KANARESE INSCRIPTIONS.
105
"Most noble, most righteous king," replied GullAli Shah. "You have done well. Better that you should lose your life, your kingdom, your all, than that you should deny your word. Would that all the rulers of the earth were such as you are! Then would the people be happier, and righteousness and peace would fill the world. God has prospered you, O king, and He will yet prosper you. Only continue zealous for your people and faithful to your word. Know you now that the beggar, whom you have just mentioned, is none other than myself; and that I, also, am that same boy who was known to the people by the name of Kharia, whose father died without an heir, and therefore his wealth and property were appropriated by the crown; and whose mother, in consequence of this, sought for employment from a certain farmer. God was with me and prospered me exceedingly, so that I met with one of your messengers, who told me all about your wishes. After much travel, through which I have become learned, great, and rich, I have at last returned to your kingdom, bring. ing with me the flowering trees. I chose to appear with them first in beggar's clothes, that I might test your fidelity to your promise. You have been proved. Forgive me, I pray you, if I seemed to be wrong in this matter, and grant me your daughter in marriage." Saying these words he caught hold of the king's hands and seated him by his side in the place of honour.
When the king heard the good news, he was almost beside himself with gladness. “God be praised !” he said aloud and clasped
Gullálå Shah to him in affectionate embrace. “Of course, I will give you my daughter, but who am I to promise this thing P Ask what you will and you shall have it, to the full extent of my power."
News of this meeting was at once conveyed to the princess, who would not believe it, until Gullala Shâh himself appeared and declared it to her. In due time the wedding was celebrated with great éclat. Gullala Shah fixed his abode in that country, and lived most happily with his four princess wives, for Pañj Phůl had long ago re-assumed her true character. He became increasingly popular and increasingly prosperous, and in a few years, on the death of the king, succeeded to the throne. Other countries were quickly conquered, and everything was managed with such skill and justice, that soon Gullalá Shah became the greatest king of those days. All nations did him homage and all people respected him.
Some will perhaps think that Gullala Shih forgot his mother and relations in the time of his greatness; but it was not so. He found her out, and gave her a beautiful house to live in and a large number of servants to wait on her; he also inquired for those who had in any way helped her during her distress, and promoted them to offices of great honour. Thus did he live, universally just, loving, and good.
No wonder then that he become so popular ! No wonder his kingdom waxed so great and strong! No wonder that when he died, at a ripe old age, there went up from all people, rich and poor, old and young, & great wail that seemed to rend the heavens !
SANSKRIT AND OLD-KANARESE INSCRIPTIONS.
By J. F. FLEET, Bo.C.S., M.R.A.S., C.I.E.
(Continued from Vol. XIV. p. 319.) DIGHWA-DUBAULI PLATE OF THE MAHARAJA MAHENDRAPALA.
(HARSHA)-SAMVAT 155. No. 160.
lation of it, accompanied by a rough and by This inscription appears to have been dis- no means accurate lithograph of the date. covered by Messrs. P. Peppe and James And, with the exception of subsequent disCOBBerat, and was first brought to notice in cussions as to the reading of date, this rendering 1864, in the Jour. Beng. 26. Soc. Vol. XXXIII. of the inscription has remained the standard p. 321ff., when, in his paper entitled "On a published version of it up to the present time. Land-Grant of Mahendrapala Deva of Kanauj," I now re-edit it, with a lithograph, from the Dr. Rajendralal Mitra published his reading original plate, which I obtained for examination, of the text of the plate only, and a trans- through the kindness of Mr. G. A. Grierson,
