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whither he goes to enjoy the pleasures of a hunt on the banks of the Palar. (S. 3) He (Vishnu) who was incarnate on a banian leaf, appeared again in the sacred womb of the wife of him of the race of the moon, which dispels darkness, the beautiful daughter of Rajaraja, of the rival race of the sun. (S. 5) Gentle showers of rain fell at the time; and the wife of Gangaikonda-Chola took up the noble son of her noble daughter in her hands, which were as fair as the flowers of the red lotus. (S. 6) She saw that in all his limbs he resembled his parents, and said that he was worthy to be her (adopted) son, and to increase the fame of the solar race. -(S. 7) As a young prince of the lunar race, as an infant lord of the solar race, he grew up, the joy of the kings of both races, like the fruit of the virtuous deeds of his ancestors. (S. 9) To make it clear that he was the Krishna of olden times, who, born as the son of Vasudeva, relieved this earth of its evils, he wore the ornament on which were engraved his five weapons, the club, bow, sword, conch, and discus. (S. 11) Like the marriagethread on the sacred neck of the goddess whose seat is on a flower (Lakshmi), the three-fold thread shone on his broad chest, and he appeared distinguished by the rites of a second birth.
(S. 12) He heard from Brahmans, and repeated, the four Vêdas, which he had once before studied, when he assumed the form of a learned dwarf and begged for a grant of land. (S. 13) To the joy of the goddess Earth, who knew that her happiest days were near, he wore on his shoulders the fure of the goddess of Viotory, and at his waist, a shining short scimitar.(S. 14)" To this day Sûrya dispels the darkness, driving in a chariot drawn by seven steeds; I will remove the evils of this earth, driving a single horse," thus he said, and learnt to drive a chariot. (S. 15) "Indra conquers his enemies, riding an elephant which has four tusks; I will rout my enemies, riding one with only two tusks," thus he said, and learnt to ride elephants. (S. 16) The five kinds of weapons, beginning with the discus, being his own (as an incarnation of Vishnu), he learnt to use them, that he might conquer in all directions; and his fair hands did not feel the weight of the arms. (S. 18) Installed as heir-apparent to the Abhaya, who bears a banner of renown, he made up his mind to seize the wealth of rival kings. -(S. 20) He set out with his troops of horses, to meet the wrath of the northern kings, which gathered like the darkness falling upon the earth, when the steeds of Surya approach the west. - (S. 23) When the bright brows of the Chola, who had quelled the strifes of men, were bent like a bow, then was Yama furious, and Chakkarakoddam fell. (S. 24) When opposing armies fled at every encounter, and Abhaya seized the hands of the goddess of Victory, kings offered, in tribute, horses and elephants and wealth of every kind. (S. 25) The eyes of the kings who came to fight, paled, and their feet reddened, as they fled from the battlefield; while the javelin in the fair hands of him who was a terror to Virutaraja was red (with blood) and his fame was white (i. e. increased). (S. 26) While Abhaya, thus riding an elephant, went into the northern countries, the "king of kings" went to heaven to be a king of gods, and we shall describe what befell the southern land. (S. 27) The Brahmans gave up sacrifices; the laws of Manu were not followed; the six sciences were forgotten; and the chanting of Vêdic hymns ceased: (S. 28) The castes mixed one with another in wild confusion; and forgetting their rules of conduct, none kept to their ancient customs:- (S. 29) One trying to govern another, the temples of the gods were neglected; the women lost their chastity; and fortresses were destroyed. (S. 30) While the land was thus shrouded in the darkness of evil, he (Abhaya) came to save the world, like the sun which rises above the roaring sea, driving away darkness. (S. 31) He made it his duty to create afresh all the usual safe-guards (for the. people), and restored to their former state those who had been ruined. - (S. 32) Amid the roar of the four oceans, the chanting of the four Vêdas, and the blessings of the three worlds, he was anointed. S. (33) While kings, wearing sounding anklets, laid sacred grass at his feet, the Brahmans held the crown, and the laws of Manu revived. S. (34) On the long crown, studded with many gems in rows, water was poured, and the virtues sprouted. (S. 35) When the lofty tiger-standard was raised, supreme over the world, other kings also raised their banners, and the gods shouted with joy. (S. 36) While, with hands joined in obeisance, kings stood round the Abhaya, who wore the sounding anklet, his umbrella, decked
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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
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