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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
The Tiruvalangadu copper-plates of the sixth year of Rajendra-Chola I ...Previous | (Tiruvalangadu copper-plates) | Next... Translation
of the Sanskrit text ...(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.,
Sivaâa) 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.) [1]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.[2]
(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[3]
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 âthis (king) in all probability shall relieve our husband (i.e., Adisesha)
of the weight of the earth on his head.â (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.) âI am determined to follow my lord Sundara (i.e.,
the beautiful) before (he) is coveted by the celestial
damsels,â so saying zealously, his devoted queen the glorious
Vanavanmahadevi, a very Arundhati in (her) manifold good
qualities, abandoned her own people[4]
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., Arunmolivarmanâs) 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[5]
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.
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