गुप्त अभिलेख संग्रह (जे. एफ. फ्लीट - गुप्त सम्राटों एवं परवर्ती नरेशों के ऐतिहासिक पाषाण व ताम्रलेख)

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 18, PLATE XI. 85
swans that are encaged in the pollen that falls from the waterlilies shaken by the tremu-
lous waves; and in other places with the waterlilies bent down by the great burden of
their filaments. Here the woods are adorned with lordly trees, that are bowed down by
the weight of their flowers and are full of the sounds of the flights of bees that hum loudly
through intoxication (caused by the juices of the flowers that they suck), and with the
women from the city who are perpetually singing. Here the houses have waving flags,
(and) are full of tender women, (and) are very white (and) extremely lofty, resembling
the peaks of white clouds lit up with forked lightning. And other long buildings on the
roofs of the houses, with arbours in them, are beautiful,—being like the lofty summits of (the
mountain) Kailâsa; being vocal with songs (like those) of the Gandharvas; having pictured
representations arranged (in them); (and) being adorned with groves of waving plantain-
trees. Here, cleaving asunder the earth, there rise up houses which are decorated with
successions of storeys; which are like rows of aerial chariots; (and) which are as pure
as the rays of the full-moon. This (city) is beautiful (through) being embraced by two
charming rivers,¹ with tremulous waves, as if it were the body of (the god) Smara
(embraced) in secrecy by (his wives) Prîti and Rati, possessed of (heaving) breasts. Like
the sky with the brilliant multitudes of planets, it shines with Brâhmaṇs endowed with truth,
patience, self-control, tranquillity, religious vows, purity, fortitude, private study, good con-
duct, refinement, and steadfastness, (and) abounding in learning and penances, and free
from the excitement of surprise.
(L. 8.)—So assembling together, (and) day by day received into greater friendship
by (their) constant associates, (and) honourably treated like sons by the kings, in joy and
happiness they settled in (this) city. Some of them (became) excessively well acquainted
with the science of archery, (in which the twanging of the bow is) pleasing to the ear;
others, devoting themselves to hundreds of excellent achievements, (became) acquainted
with wonderful tales; and others, unassuming in (their) modesty (and) devoted to dis-
courses of the true religion, (became) able to say much that was free from harshness
(and yet was) salutary. Some excelled in their own business (of silk-weaving); and by
others, possessed of high aims, the science of astrology was mastered; and even to-day
others of them, valorous in battle, effect by force the destruction of (their) enemies. So
also others, wise, possessed of charming wives, (and) belonging to a famous and mighty
lineage, are decorated with achievements that befit (their) birth; and others, true to
(their) promises (and) firm in friendship with the accompaniment of confidence, are skilled
in conferring favours upon (their) intimates. (And so) the guild shines gloriously all
around, through those who are of this sort, and through others who,—overcoming the
attachment for worldly objects; being characterised by piety; (and) possessing most
abundant goodness,—(are) very gods in an earthly habitation.
(L. 11.)—(Just as) a woman, though endowed with youth and beauty (and) adorned
with the arrangement of golden necklaces and betel-leaves and flowers, goes not to meet
(her) lover in a secret place, until she has put on a pair of coloured silken cloths,—(so)
the whole of this region of the earth, is (almost superfluously) adorned through them,
(as if) with a silken garment, agreeable to the touch, variegated with the arrangement of
different colours, (and) pleasing to the eye.
¹ Of these rivers, one, of course, is the Śiwanâ, on the north bank of which the town stands.
The other must be the ‘Sumli,’ which now flows into the Śiwanâ about three miles to the north-east
of the town.