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

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 39, PLATE XXV. 183
the mass of darkness; who, being a sun that was always risen, was (ever) conferring
upon (his) subjects confidence of the highest kind, that was fully justified, (and) was the
result of the very various objects with which he busied himself (for their welfare), (and)
was filled out with (constant) augmentation; who, being clever (on the one side) in deter-
mining peace and war and reconciliation (and on the other) in settling the euphonic
joining of letters and the analysis of words and composition, was thoroughly well
versed even in both the rituals of sovereignty and of Śâlaturîya,¹ (the text-books on the
one side) of those who give commands suitable to the rank (of their subordinates) (and on
the other side) of those who apply substituted grammatical forms suitable to the places
(that they are to fill), (and on the one side) of those who are eminent in refinement effected
by the employment of an increase of virtue, (and on the other side) of those who excel in
the perfection of language effected by the employment of the guṇa² and vṛiddhi³ changes
of vowels; who, though naturally valorous, possessed a heart that was tender through
compassion; who, though well acquainted with sacred learning, was free from pride;
who, though beautiful, was full of tranquillity; (and) who, though firm in friendship,
repudiated people pervaded with faults.
(L. 28.)—His son, whose forehead, resembling a portion of the moon, had on it a
spot that was the mark caused by rubbing against the earth in performing obeisance to
the waterlilies that were his feet, (was) the most devout worshipper of (the god) Mahê-
śvara, the Paramabhaṭṭâraka, Mahârâjâdhirâja, Paramêśvara, and *Chakravartin,*⁴ the
glorious Dharasêna (IV.),—who, in very childhood, had a speciality of sacred learning
that was as pure as the beauty of the pearl-ornaments worn in (his) ears; who had the
waterlilies that were (his) fingers besprinkled with the stream of (constant) liberality;
who intensified the happiness of the earth by the lenient levying of taxes, as if he were
intensifying the happiness of a maiden by tenderly taking (her) hand (in marriage); who,
as if he were (the very personification of) the science of archery of bowmen, perceived
at once all objects that should be aimed at; (and) whose commands were like the jewels
in the locks of hair worn on the heads of all the chieftains who bowed down before (him).
(L. 32.)—Of the son⁵ of the illustrious **Śîlâditya (I.),**⁶ who was the (elder) brother
of his father's father⁷ (Kharagraha I.), (and) who was, as it were, (the god) Śârṅga-
¹ The grammarian Pâṇini, as having been born in the town of Śalâtura. The play on words here
rests on the ordinary and grammatical meanings of saṁdhi, vigraha, and the other terms employed.
² The formative change of i, and î, u and û, ri and rî, and lṛi, into ê, ô, ar or ra and al.
³ The formative change of a, i and î, u and û, ri and lṛi, into â, ai, au, âr or râ, and âl.
⁴ Chakravartin is explained by Monier Williams, in his Sanskrit Dictionary, as meaning “a
ruler, the wheels (chakra) of whose chariot roll everywhere without obstruction;” or “the ruler of a
chakra or country described as extending from sea to sea.” Another explanation is given in the
Vishṇu-Purâṇa, book I. chap. xiii. verse 46 (see Hall’s edition of H. H. Wilson’s Translation, Vol. I.
p. 183, and note 1), viz. “a discus (chakra), the sign of (the god) Vishṇu, (is to be found among the
marks) on the hands of all Chakravartins; (and such a ruler is one) whose prowess cannot be with-
stood even by the gods.”—The word Chakravartin denotes ‘an universal ruler;’ and is one of the
technical titles of paramount sovereignty, though it is not of such frequent occurrence as the others
are (see page 10 above, note 3).—This Dharasêna’s own grant of the year 326, inserts, after
Chakravartin, the epithet “who meditated on the feet of (his) illustrious grandfather” (see page 176
above, note 4).
⁵ See page 176 above, note 5. ⁶ Mentioned in line 14 above.
⁷ i.e. of the father’s father of the last-mentioned king, Dharasêna IV.