South Indian Inscriptions

INCRIPTIONS OF THE EARLY CHALUKYAS OF GUJARAT

through the protection of Kārttikēya; (and) who have all kings submitting to them the moment they see the boar-emblem which was obtained by the favour of the divine (god) Nārāyana,–(there was) the Pŗithivīvallabha, Mahārājādhirāja, Paramēśvara, Satyāśraya, the illustrious Kīrtivarmarāja (I), whose body was sanctified by the avabhritha bath in an Aśvamēdha sacrifice, (and) the pair of whose lotus-like feet shone and looked resplendent with the rays of clusters of jewels set on the sides of the crowns of many kings.

(L. 6) His son, who meditated on his feet, (was) the illustrious Pulakēśivallabha (II), whose other name was Satyāśraya; who was a devout worshipper of Mahēśvara ; who was most adorable like a great and pre-eminent god; who knew the import and the principles of all śāstras; who worshipped the surface of the battle-field with clusters (of flowers poured out) from pots, in the shape of multitudes of fresh, white and spotless pearls from the frontal globes of attacking hostile elephants, which was hard like an elephant’s trunk ; (and) who attained formidable power by defeating the illustrious Harshavardhana, the illustrious lord of Uttarāpatha (North India).

(L. 11) His son, who meditated on his feet, (was) the Paramabhattāraka Satyāśraya, the illustrious Vikramādityarāja (I), who was a devout worshipper of Mahēśvara ; the pair of whose lotus-like feet were rubbed by the edges of the crowns of many feudatory princes; whose firmness was like that of the Mēru, Malaya, Mandara and Vindhya (mountains) ; whose army, (consisting of) excellent elephants, horses, chariots and foot- soldiers, was increasing day by day ; who acquired his kingdom by means of his excellent and peerless horse, Chitrakaņtha, which had the speed of the mind ; (and) who conquered the three hereditary¹ kingdoms Chēra, Chōla and Pāņdya.

(L. 14) His younger brother (was) the Paramabhattāraka Dharāśraya, the illustrious Jayasimhavarmarāja, who was a devout worshipper of Mahēśvara; who conquered all allies of his enemies; who was an ornament of the earth which has the flowery girdle of the surrounding four oceans ; who, like a lion’s cub, rent open the frontal globes of rutting elephants ; who took delight only in valour; (and) whose glory is well-known in the circuit of all quarters.

(L. 17) His son, who meditated on his feet, (was) the Paramabhattāraka Jayāśraya, the illustrious Mangalarasarāja, who was a devout worshipper of Mahēśvara; who was the joy of the minds of all people; the prowess of whose spotless sword was celebrated in songs in the guise of the morning lamentations of the virtuous wives of the hostile neighbouring kings who were killed when they opposed him in many dangerous battles², and who, by the might of his arms, acquired his own territory.

(L. 20) His younger brother, who is intent on propitiating his lotus-like feet, (is) the Paramabhattāraka Avanijanāśraya, the illustrious Pulakēśirāja, who is a devout worshipper of Mahēśvara ; whose power is increasing day by day ; who has, since his very childhood, become the abode of all good qualities ; whose breast is occupied by the goddess of royal fortune who was quite free to choose her lord; who has made the whole-world spotless by spreading his white fame; who was favoured by the illustrious king Vallabha who is fond of heroism, with the following four titels, viz., the Pillar of Dakshiņāpatha (South India), the Ornament of the family of the Chalukkis, the Beloved of the Earth, the Repeller of the unrepellable,
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¹With kram-āgata used here, compare karma-prāpta (inherited) in karma-prāpta-nripa-śriyah of the Vākātaka seals.
² This expression is copied from a Gurjara grant. See, e.g., lines 26-27 of the Kaira plates (first set) of Dadda II-Praśāntaraga