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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.
101.) It may be no wonder that the fire of his anger
burst into a flame as it came into contact with the descendant
of Taila.[1]
This is (more) strange that it consumed the
enemy-fuel, having crossed the great waters of the ocean.[2] (V.
102.) While this king with anger was engaged in vanquishing
Jayasimharaja, very strangely (indeed), the fire of grief
of the Ratta ladies burst into a flame, washed by the tears (trickling)
from (their) eyes. (V.
103.) The sides of the ample breasts of the ladies of the Ratta
king who was cut to pieces by his fierce General, (though
rendered) destitute of ornaments (on account of their
widowhood) (nevertheless) became brilliant and
beautiful as before with shining pearls, viz., the drops
of their tears. (V.
104.) The forces of Cholendrasimha and Jayasimha fought an
intensive battle, each (side) kindling the anger of the
other, wherein the fire generated by the tusks of huge
infuriated elephants dashing (against each other), burnt
all the banners. (V.
105.) That lord of Rattarashtra (i.e., Jayasimha) in
order to escape from the fire of the terrible rage of the
ornament of the Solar race (i.e., Rajendra-Chola) took to
his heels with fear, abandoning all (his) family riches
and reputation. (V.
106.) Afraid to the anger of the ornament of the Valabha race (i.e.,
of Rajendra-Chola) to whom fame was dear, the rest of the
enemyâs forces quickly sought refuge in forests and
mountain-caves as did (also) the dust (raised by)
his (i.e., Rajendra-Cholaâs) (pursuing) army. (V. 107.) The army of Rattaraja hemmed in on all sides by the continuous downpour of arrows, (and) beleaguered by the heroes in the army of the ornament of the Solar race, was (completely) destroyed just as a range of clouds tossed about by the force of furious winds. (V.
108.) Having defeated Rattaraja with (his) forces, the
son of Rajaraja, well-versed in polity and attended by all his
numerous virtues such as courage, prowess and victory, got (back)
to (his) (capital) town.
(V.
109.) This light of the Solar race, laughing at Bhagiratha who
had brought down the Ganga (to the earth from heaven) by
the power of (his) austerities, wished to sanctify his
own country with the waters of the Ganga (i.e., the
river Ganges) carried thither through the strength of
(his) arm. (V.
110.) Accordingly (he) ordered the commander of the army
who had powerful battalions (under his control), who was
the resort of heroism (and) the foremost of diplomats,
â to subdue the enemy kings occupying (the country on)
the banks of that (river). (V. 111). Before him, as from the slopes of the Himalayas, marched a very large army like the tremendous volume of the waters of the Ganga with wavy rows of moving horses, causing all the quarters to resound with its confused clamour. (V.
112.) The van of his army crossed the rivers by way of bridges
formed by herds of elephants.
The rest of the army (crossed the same) on foot, (because)
the waters in the meantime had dried up being used by elephants,
horses and men. (V.
113.) The soldiers of Vikrama-Chola having reached the points of
the compass (first) by the dust raised by crowds of
elephants, horses and foot-men, quickly entered (next)
the country of hostile kings. (V.
114.) That general of the ornament of the Solar race first
conquered Indraratha (and) captured the country of that
jewel of the Lunar race to meet him (on the battlefield)
with very powerful elephants, horses and innumerable
foot-soldiers. (V.
115.) The white parasol of that king, the jewel of the Lunar
race, fell (to the ground) its (supporting) staff
and top being cut (asunder) in battle by sharp arrows, as
if the disc of the moon (fell), distressed by the defeat (of
her descendant). (V.
116.) Then having robbed Ranasura of his prosperity he entered
the extensive dominions of Dharmapala.
(And) conquering him too, this General of the king
of Sibis (i.e., of Rajendra-Chola) reached the celestial
river (Ganga). (V.
117.) The dandanayaka then immediately got the most
sacred waters of that (river) carried to his master
Madhurantaka by the subjugated chiefs on the banks of that (Ganga
river). (V.
118.) (Meantime) Rajendra-Chola (himself) with a desire to
conquer (enemy kings) reached the river Godavari and by the
scented cosmetics on his body (washed away) during a playful
bath in the waters (of that river) caused her (i.e.,
the Godavari river) to be suspected (of enjoyment with
a stranger) by the lord of rivers (i.e., the ocean).[3] (V.
119.) The powerful General had (just then) got the waters of the
Ganga carried to his master (Rajendra-Chola), after having
defeated Mahipala and having taken possession of his fame,
splendour and precious gems. (V.
120.) The heroic king killed in battle (the lord of) Odda
who was carrying on the orders of the king of the Kali (-age),[4]
together with (his) younger brother and (his) army
and then forcibly took possession of (his) rutting
elephants. (V.
121.) There, the king with his own hand (and) from the (back
of the) elephant mounted by himself, killed a mad elephant
that ran at him with its trunk raised. (V.
122.) He (then) entered his own (capital) town,
which by its prosperity despised all the merits of the abode of
the gods, â his lotus feet (all along) being worshipped
by the kings of high birth who had been subdued (by him). (V.
123.) Having conquered Kataha with (the help of) his valiant
forces that had crossed the ocean, (and) having made all
kings bow down (before him) this (king) (Rajendra-Chola)
protected the whole earth for a long time. (V.
124.) (This) lord constructed in his own dominions as a
pillar of victory (a tank) known by repute as Cholagangam
which was composed of the waters of the Ganges. (V.
125.) This glorious and highly prosperous king Madhurantaka
staying in the town called sri-Mudigondacholapura, deputed with
pleasure the illustrious and virtuous Jananatha, the son of Rama,
in the sixth year (of his reign), (ordering) him
to have the prosperous village of Palayur granted to the enemy
of (the demon) Andhaka (i.e., Siva) (V.
126.) Wise men call him (i.e., Jananatha) who was the
chief of the learned, a Dhishana (Brihaspati) come down
(to the earth) from heaven in
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