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IN00032 Junagadh Rock Inscription 1 of the Time of Skandagupta

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IN00032 Junagadh Rock Inscription 1 of the Time of Skandagupta IN00032 Junagadh Rock Inscription 1 of the Time of Skandagupta Bhandarkar, Devadatta Ramakrishna, Bahadur Chand Chhabra, and Govind Swamirao Gai, Inscriptions of the Early Gupta Kings (New Delhi: Archaeological Survey of India, 1981): 302- 305. Prepared by Razieh B. Golzadeh Luck! Verse 1) Victorious is that Viṣṇu, who, for the sake of the happiness of (Indra) the lord of the gods, snatched away the royal dignity of Bali, which was admitted to be worthy of enjoyment and which has more than once been wrested (from them)—who is the permanent abode of (the goddess) Lakṣmī, whose resting-place is the water lily—who overcomes affliction and is the consummate victor. Verse 2-3) And next, victorious for ever, is Skandagupta, whose chest is clasped by the goddess of wealth—who has developed valour through his own arms and has become over-king of kings—who forged an order with an effigy, namely, Garuḍa, which rendered, devoid of poison, the Serpent (bhujaga) Rulers who uplifted their hoods in pride and arrogance—who is the abode of kingly qualities, is of profuse glory— (and) who, when his father attained to the companionship of the gods, humbled down his enemies and made subject to himself the (whole) earth bounded by the waters of the four oceans and with thriving border countries; Verse 4) And, moreover, he alone has conquered, whose fame enemies proclaim (being caused to return) to the Mleccha countries, with (their) pride broken down to the very root; Verse 5) Whom the goddess of fortune has of her own accord selected as her husband, having discarded all sons of kings, after considering them in succession, with judgement and skill, and pondering over all the springs of virtue and vice. Verse 6) While that king is ruling, verily no man whatsoever from among his subjects has deviated from duty—is distressed, indigent, addicted to vice, miserly—or in one, who is severely chastised with a cudgel. Verse 7-11) Having thus conquered the whole earth, having destroyed the egregious pride of enemies, (and) having appointed protectors in all provinces, he cogitated in many ways:— “ who is there that is suitable—endowed with intellect—is modest—possessed of a nature not devoid of wisdom and recollection—endowed with truthfulness, straightforwardness, magnanimity, and diplomacy—and possessed of sweetness, kindness and fame—devoted—attached—endowed with manly characteristics—and possessed of (good) intentions, tested by all allurements—possessed of an inner soul which has attained to the state of being free from (all) debt (to his master); striving for the welfare of the whole world—who, again, is capable in the lawful acquisition of wealth, in the preservation of it when acquired, and further in causing the augmentation of it when preserved, and in the dispensation of it on worthy objects when augmented—whom among all my servants put together, shall govern the whole of the Surāṣṭra country? Ah! I know it— (there is) just one man, Parṇadatta, competent to bear this burden.” Verse 12) By the lord of kings, having so decided with his own deliberation for a number of days and nights, who (Parṇadatta) was appointed somehow with pressing, to protect in a proper manner the land of the Surāṣṭras. Verse 13) Just as the gods, having deputed Varuṇa to the West became contented and unperplexed, so the king, having deputed Parṇadatta to the region opposite to the East (i.e., the West), became happy. Verse 14-16) His son, possessed of a filial disposition—his own soul divided into two—guided by self-control—worthy of being protected by the all-pervading soul as if it were (his own) self— always self-possessed—with (his) form as lovely as that of cupid—with (his) whole disposition permeated by continuous joy in consequence of varied pastimes consonant with his (graceful) form—with his face resembling a lotus (coming) from a tank of full-blown lotuses—the protector of men who come for refuge—and has become renowned under the name of Cakrapālita on earth—who is dear unto the people—who has exceled (his) father by his own pristine noble qualities. Verse 17-18) In whom dwell all these qualities pre-eminently and inseparably, namely, forbearance, masterfulness, modesty, prudent behaviour, great respect for (all) heroism, except heroism represented on the stage, eloquence (?), self-restraint, liberality, high-spiritedness, civility, freedom from debt (to the master), freedom from listlessness, beauty, control of (people) other than Āryas, freedom from arrogance, fortitude, and generosity. Verse 19) There exists in this whole world no one where a comparison with his virtues may be made—verily he has become, in all entirety, a standard of comparison to men endowed with virtuous qualities. Verse 20) Who, being appointed by (his) father, after testing in person these qualities mentioned above and many others than these, has afforded the protection of (this) city excellently, surpassing his predecessors. Verse 21) Relying upon the prowess of his own two excellent arms (?), not on the conceit of another man, he has harassed no one in this city, and punished the wicked only. Verse 22) Within this brief time, he ruled with confidence over the people, including the inhabitants of the city—and who has fondled all classes of citizens, (surely his own) sons, [or, as if they were his own sons—Ed.], after carefully enquiring into (their) faults. Verse 23) And (who) has gratified the subjects by conversations preceded by smiles, marks of honour and presents, and by unrestrained visiting (of) one another’s houses (and) such as promoting friendly home receptions. Verse 24) Full of the highest feelings of reverence to the Brāhmaṇa, capable, pure, (and) in a suitable manner devoted to charity, he has enjoyed pleasures of sense attainable in time, without any conflict between religious merit and worldly prosperity. Verse 25) Is it strange if he, (born) of Parṇadatta, is possessed of proper behaviour? Will any scorching arise from the moon which is cooling like a string of pearls or like a water lily? Verse 26) When, in course of time, there came the season of clouds, tearing asunder with (its) clouds the season of heat, much water rained down unceasingly for a long time—in consequence of which (the lake) Sudarśana burst from the four roads. Verse 27-28) And now when a century of years, increased by thirty-six (had elapsed), making the calculation according to the Gupta era, at night, on the sixth day of (the month) Prauṣṭhapada— these (rivers) sprung from (the mountain) Raivataka, and this Palāśinī that moves gracefully in sand, (all of them) the wives of the ocean, having dwelt for long in bondage, went again to their husband (the ocean), in due accordance with the scriptures. Verse 29) Noticing the great bewilderment caused by the advent of rains, (the mountain) Ūrjayat, wishing to do a good turn to the great ocean, stretched forth, as it were, a hand, consisting of the river (palāśinī), decorated with the numerous powers that grew on the edges of (its) banks. Verse 30-31) Feeling, indeed, dejected on all sides, discussing how they should act, keeping awake the whole night by turns, the people reflected (thus), feeling restless “just in a moment, (the lake) Sudarśana, has become disagreeable to the sight of men—can it ever become pleasing of aspect, having the appearance of the ocean….? Verse 32) He, having become…., displaying exceeding devotion to (his) father, (and) placing, (prominently) before him, religion, (his) sacred ties to the king, and the well-being of the town; Verse 33) When a century of years, increased by thirty-seven (had elapsed), comprehending the sacred writings,….whose great might is well known—though (he is) viśva; Verse 34) Then having sacrificed to the gods with oblations of clarified butter and with obeisance’s—and having gratified the twice-born with (presents of) riches—and having honoured the citizens with such honours as they deserved and (his) respectable servants and friends with presents; Verse 35-37) In the first fortnight of the month (called Āṣāḍha) and belonging to the hot season, on the first day, he, having put forth careful efforts and made an immeasurable expenditure of wealth, in two months, laboriously built up a hundred cubits in all in depth, and sixty-eight in breadth, and seven (?) men’s height in elevation (of the breach into the embankment) of two hundred cubits, having done honour to the kings, built with great labour, with stone well laid, (so that) the lake, not evil by nature, became renowned as Sudarśana (of good appearance) for all eternity. Verse 38) Agitated by the lower part of the body of the ruddy-geese, the herons and the swans which have displayed their beauty on the edges of the firmly built embankment….pure waters….(so long as) the sun and the moon. Verse 39) And may the city become affluent—teeming with citizens—bereft of sin through prayers sung by many hundreds of Brāhmaṇas, (and free) for a hundred years from distress such as those caused by calamities (like) famine…. 23) Thus ends this literary composition of the restoration of the Sudarśana Lake. Verse 40) …. (Skandagupta), who destroyed the haughtiness of the haughty enemies—who is of great royal dignity—who is the foremost of his family—who is the lord of the whole earth— whose pious deeds are more wondrous than overlordship of kings. Verse 41) By his son, who is endowed with his own good qualities—whose life has been dedicated at the feet of (the god) Govinda…. Verse 43-45) And by that Cakrapālita, who is of a straightforward mind, who causes townsmen to bow down by his own prowess, having acquired there at the lotus-like feet of Viṣṇu….has been caused to be built a temple of (the god) Cakrabhṛt, who carries the discus….with a great expenditure of wealth and after a long time, when one hundred and thirty-eight years (had elapsed) (according to the calculation) of the Gupta era.
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