...(V.
51.) Encircled by the fire of whose prowess the Pandya king at
once entered the sea, as if intent upon quenching that
affliction in haste, abandoning (his) royal glory and (his)
hereditary dominion.
(V.
52.) The fire of whose anger after burning (his) enemies
quenched not in the waters of the sea (but) subsided (only)
by the tears of the wives of the Simhala (king) who was
cut to pieces and killed by (his) weapons.
(V.
53.) He built for Purari (Siva), who was before (this)
on the silver mountain (Kailasa), a golden house called
Dabhra-Sabha and (thus) put to shame his (i.e.,
Siva’a) friend, the lord of wealth (Kubera) by (his)
immense riches.
(V.
54.) His son Rajaditya defeated Krishnaraja in battle and went
to heaven. His
brother named Gandaraditya, whose feet were worshipped by the
rows of diadems (worn on the heads) of the rulers of the
earth, became king.
(V.
55.) Arindama
(i.e., the destroyer of enemies) bearing indeed a name
which was full of meaning, became the best of kings; the dense
forests became a abode of kings, who fled from his anger.
(V.
56.) From him was born the king known as Parantaka who received
glowing prowess from the sun, profoundness from the ocean, great
heroism from Hari (Vishnu) the abode of strength, an
incomparable body from Kama (cupid), prosperity from
Vishnu and from the moon a splendor pleasant to the eye.
(V.
57.) The mass of people believe this king to be Manu, who, out
of love for the (good) conduct which was set forth by
himself, has come to the earth once again to establish his law
which had become lax under the influence of the Kali (age).
(v.
58.) While that emperor Sundara was ruling the circle of the
earth, the syllable ha
(indicative of sorrow) was heard by people only in words
like hara.
(V.
59.) This (king), who was almost (the god of)
Death of the Kali (age), considered the circle of the
earth to be a more becoming jewel to (his) two serpent-(like)
shoulders than golden armlets brilliant with flawless stones (gems).
(V.
60.) The courtyard about the portals (of his palace)
was covered with the dust of gold-pieces which (having)
dropped down during the great confusion (ensuing on the
occasion) of (the giving away of) unlimited
charities, were crushed to powder by the hoofs of horses.
(V.
61.) His son Arunmolivarma
was born (like another) Murari (Vishnu) supporting
on his two arms, long like the prasa (weapon), the
glorious (goddess) Sri (Lakshmi) who closely
embraced the whole of (his) body, and bearing on the palms (of his
hands), the sankha and chakra in the form of
auspicious marks.
(V.
62.) The eyes of people fully delighted in the extraordinary
moon (viz., his body) (which maintained) great
pure luster in both the fortnights (paksha) [or
was of pure descent on both sides (maternally and paternally)]
and presented a very big (i.e., complete), orb
(always) [or had an extensive kingdom to rule].
(V.
63.) The Naga-women danced on the occasion of the birth of this
emperor saying “this (king) in all probability shall relieve our husband (i.e., Adisesha)
of the weight of the earth on his head.”
(V.
64.) King Sundara-Chola of great prowess went to heaven,
requested (as it were) by the assemblage of gods to
protect (it) immediately from the attack of the armies of
demons and demi-gods.
(V.
65.) “I am determined to follow my lord Sundara (i.e.,
the beautiful) before (he) is coveted by the celestial
damsels,” so saying zealously, his devoted queen the glorious
Vanavanmahadevi, a very Arundhati in (her) manifold good
qualities, abandoned her own people
and followed him as [night] the day to heaven, afraid as it were
of the allurement (of her husband) by celestial nymphs and
(desirous consequently of) being near (him) even there.
(V.
67.) After him, his son named Aditya ruled the earth.
He, who excelled the mind-born (Cupid in his (superior)
beauty, killed the Pandya king in battle.
(V.
68.) Having deposited in his (capital) town the lofty pillar of
victory (viz.,) the head of the Pandya king, Aditya disappeared
(from this world) with a desire to see heaven.
(V.
69.) (Though) requested by the subjects (to occupy the
Chola throne), in order to destroy the persistently blinding
darkness of the powerful Kali (age), Arunmolivarman who
understood the essence of royal conduct, desired not the kingdom
for himself even in (his) mind, while his paternal uncle
coveted his (i.e., Arunmolivarman’s) dominions.
(V.
70.) Having ascertained by the marks (on his body) that
Arunmoli was the lotus-eyed (Vishnu) himself, the able
protector of the three worlds that had incarnated (on earth),
Madhurantaka installed him in the office of heir-apparent, and
(himself) bore the burden of (ruling) the earth.
(V.
71.) Applying (his) mind to (the devotion of)
Sarva (Siva), utilizing (his) wealth in the act of
performing His worship, (employing) all (his) retinue in
the construction of houses (i.e., temples) for Him, and
directing (his) subjects to (regularly) perform
His festive processions, (showing his) wrath (only)
in the killing of enemies and (distributing his) riches
among virtuous Brahmanas, that king (Madhurantaka) bore on (his)
board shoulder, the (weight of the) earth.
(V.
72.) Arunmolivarman was himself then
installed in the administration of the kingdom (as if) to
wash away the stain of the earth caused by the Kali (-age)
of his body (bathed by the water during the ceremony of
installation) ; and the ends of the quarters heavily roared
with the tumultuous sounds of the war-drums, rows of bells and
bugles, kettle drums, tambourines and conches.
(V.
73.) (Surely) the milky ocean formed itself into a circle
in the shape of (his) white parasol in the sky and came
to see his (own) daughter Sri (Lakshmi) resting on
the chest of this (king).
(V.
74.) Indeed ! the ladies of (the lords of) the quarters,
who were taken captives during the digvijaya (i.e.,
the conquest of the quarters), rendered (their) service
to this victorious monarch with chowries (made) of (his)
fame, lustrous as the shining moon-beams.
(V.
75.) Although, in the tulabhara (ceremony), the
king was weighed against gold pieces in the scales (tula),
he was still (found) a-tula (i.e.,
unequalled). (Hence),
it is difficult to comprehend the greatness of the great.
(V.
76.) This king — a
pile of matchless prosperity, majesty, learning, strength of
arm, prowess, heroism and courage —
invaded and conquered in order, (all) the quarters
commencing with the direction of Trisanku (i.e., the
south).
(V.
77.) The moon as if to afford protection to the Pandya king born
in his own family, and thinking (unto himself) “I am
also a raja (king),” became the white parasol of
this (king) who was intent upon conquering that (southern)
quarter.
(V.
78.) (King) Amarabhujanga being seized, (other)
dissolute kings, whose rule was secretly mischievous being much
afraid of him at heart, wished to hide (themselves)
somewhere (just like serpents with sliding crooked bodies).
(V.
79.) The commandant of (this) ornament of the Solar race, the
hereditary home of (the goddess of) victory, captured (the
town of) Vilinda whose moat was the sea, whose extensive
ramparts were glorious and high (and) which was
impregnable to the enemy warriors.
(V.
80.) The lord of the Raghavas (i.e., Rama) constructing a
bridge across the water of the ocean with (the assistance of)
able monkeys, killed with great difficulty the king of Lanka (i.e.,
Ravana) with sharp-edged arrows ; (but) this terrible
General of that (king Arunmolivarman) crossed the ocean
by ships and burnt the Lord of Lanka (Ceylon).
Hence Rama is (surely) surpassed by this (Chola
General).
(V.
81.) This is strange that though Satyasraya fled to avoid misery
from the attack of his (i.e., Arunmolivarman’s)
ocean-like army (still) misery found a (permanent)
abode in him. But
this is not strange, that his flight is due to (i.e., is
the result of his) birth from Taila.
(V.
82.) “Since Rajaraja, an expert in war, of the (same)
name as myself, has been killed by a powerful club, I shall,
therefore, kill that Andhra (king) called Bhima though (he
may be) faultless.” So
saying he (Arunmolivarman) killed him (i.e., Bhima) with
a mace.
(V.
83.) Having conquered the country,— the creation of Rama (i.e.,
Parasurama) whose beloved vow was to annihilate the whole of
the Kshatra (race),— (the country) which was adorned
with pious people, was matchless and inaccessible on account of
the mountains and the ocean, he caused abundant joy to all kings
that held a bow (in their hands), and made) his commands shine
on the rows of the diadems of all rulers of the earth.
(V.
84.) Having subdued in battle the Ganga, Kalinga, Vanga, Magadha,
Aratta, Odda, Saurashtra, Chalukya
and other kings, and having received homage from them, the
glorious Rajaraja — a
rising sun in opening the groups of lotuses viz., thefaces of
crowds of learned men, ruled the earth whose girdle is the water
of all oceans.
(V.
85.) To this ruler of men was born a son, Madhurantaka whose
limbs bore all the (distingusishing) marks of earth-rulers, who
resembled a different Manmatha (mind-born) who had defied
the angry roar of Hara (Siva).
(V.
86.) Wonder ! While he of great prowess, was protecting this
earth ever following the ways of the good, the eyes of his wives
openly transgressed the path (laid down by) the sruti
(i.e., the Vedas).
(V.
87.) The fierce Sun, viz., the prowess of Madhurantaka,
stood pervading the whole space (comprised) within the
circuit of the quarters. It
is strange that (this Sun) reduced to ashes all the kings
who stood aloof (from him) (i.e., those who were
his enemies) but relieved the affliction of all kings who were
near (i.e., those who sought refuge in him).
(V.
88.) Strange it is that the disc of the moon (raja-mandala,
the circle of kings) setting in the waters of the
ocean of his sword, does not rise (again).
This is still more strange that (subsequently) it (i.e.,
the disc of the moon) continues to remain in the sky with
(its) brilliant lustre.
(V.
89.) (This) famous (and) heroic lord of men intent
upon doing meritorious deeds with large quantities of money
acquired by (the strength of) his own arm, turned his
attention to the conquest of the quarters (digvijaya)
backed up by a powerful army.
(V.
90.) Accordingly, he the unequalled king Uttama-Chola first
started to the (southern) quarter marked by the (the
asterism) Trisanku, with a desire to conquer the Pandya
king, after having arranged for the protection of his own
capital.
(V.
91.) The commander of forces (dandanatha) of this
crest-jewel of the Solar race (i.e., Madhurantaka),
struck the Pandya king who had a powerful army.
(And the Pandya leaving his own country which was the
residence of (the sage) Agastya, from fear (of Madhurantaka),
sought refuge in the Malaya hill.
(V.
92.) (Then) the politic son of Rajaraja took possession
of the lustrous pure pearls which looked like the seeds (out
of which grew) the spotless fame of the Pandya king.
(V.
93.) Having placed there his own son, the glorious Chola-Pandya,
for the protection of his (i.e., the Pandya’s) country,
the light of the Solar race started for the conquest of the
western region.
(V.
94.) Having heard of the humiliation which the rulers of the
earth were subjected to by (the sage) Bhargava (i.e.,
Parasurama) on the battlefield, (and) not being able to
meet him (i.e., Bhargava) (in battle) on earth,
that proud king (Madhurantaka) set his mind upon
conquering the country called after him.
(V.
95.) Excepting, Paramesvara
(Siva) who else in this (world) could even
contemplate in his mind to humiliate that country which is
protected by the glory of (Bhargava) the crest-jewel of
the Bhrigu-race and which since then (i.e., the time of
Bhargava) has not been injured by enemies ?
(V.
96.) Madhurantaka fearlessly crossed the Sahya (mountain)
(and) immediately attacked the lord of the Kerala (country)
together with his forces. Then
a fierce battle took place which wrought ruin upon (several)
kings.
(V.
97.) Having conquered the Kerala king and having annihilated the
country protected by the austerities of the chief of the Bhrigus,
that prince, the abode of prosperity, turned towards his own
capital (which looked) as it (it were) dancing (in
joy) with (its upraised) hands, viz.,
brilliant fluttering flag-cloths and whispering welcome by (its)
sweetly (jingling) waist-belts of (damsels) with unsteady
eyes.
(V.
98.) Then the great king, a light in the lineage of Sibi,
started for the conquest of the region of Vaisravana (Kubera) (i.e.,
the North), of which the triple (ash) mark (on the
forehead) is the silver mountain (and) where Siva is
residing on the Kailasa (mountain).
(V.
99.) Having appointed his own son the glorious Chola-Pandya to
protect the western country, he the very god of Death (Kala)
to the Tail-family (i.e., the Western Chalukyas) entered
(the town of) Kanchi, which was like the waist-band (kanchi)
of the goddess-earth.
(V.
100.) Observing that the lord of the Chalukyas, king Jayasimha
was the seat of the (sinful) Kali (-age),
Rajendra-Chola — himself
the destroyer of the Kali (age) —
started first to conquer him (i.e., Jayasimha)
alone.
...Previous
| (Tiruvalangadu copper-plates) |
Next...