Talagunda pillar inscription

Location

The pillar is located beside the Śiva temple of Prāṇaveśvara in Talagunda village, Shikaripur taluk in Shimoga district, Karnataka, India.

Publication

The inscription was published in Epigraphia Carnatica by the celebrated pioneer of historical studies in Karṇāṭaka B. L. Rice. An edition was also published by Kielhorn in Epigraphia Indica. Sircar included the record in his Select Inscriptions. More recent collections have included the inscription again, notably those by B. R. Gopal, and G. S. Gai.

Description and Contents

This famous inscription, carved vertically on the shaft of the pillar, opens with praise to Sthāṇu i.e. Śiva and recounts the foundation of Kadamba power by Mayūraśarma (for this personality see Mayurasharma). This family of Brāhmaṇas, who belonged to Mānavyagotra, are said to have acquired the name Kadamba from a Kadamba tree near their home. Mayūraśarma went to Pallavendrapurī (i.e. Kāñcī) with his teacher Vīraśarma to complete his studies. Because of a quarrel at the time of a horse-sacrifice (aśvamedha) orangised for the Pallava king where the Brāhmaṇas were not treated with proper respect by the Kṣatriyas, Mayūraśarma became enraged and, taking up the sword, took refuge in Śrīparvata. From there harassed the Pallava frontier and levied tribute from Bṛhat Bāṇa and others. The Pallavas eventually acknowledged him as the king of the country between Aparārṇava (the Western Ocean) and Preharā. Mayūraśarma's son was Kaṅgavarma, described in the record as "famous in battle." His son Bhagīratha was the father of Raghu who was a poet and a scholar. Raghu’s brother was Kākusthavarma (c. 435-55) who "was like the sun and by means of rays (daughters) caused the lotuses of Gupta and other royal families to bloom in friendless, eagerness and love." He came to Sthānakundūru on a hunting expedition and near the temple of Mahādeva who had been worshipped by Śātakarṇi and others previously, caused a big tank to be excavated. His son who had three crowns was Śāntivarma. Śāntivarma caused this inscription to be made. It was composed by the poet Kubja.

Metrics

Verses 1-24 - Mаtrаsamakaviśеṣa or Miśragaṇagītikа; 25-26 - Puṣpitаgrа; 27,30-31,34 - Vasantatilakа; 28 - Śаrdуla-vikрī ita, 29 - Mandаkrаntа; 32 - Indravajrа; 33 - Daṇḍakapracitacaṇḍavеga or Arṇava.

Text

1 siddham [||] namaś-Śivāya || Jayati viśvadе[va]-sa[m˙]ghāta-nichit-aikamūrttis-sanātanaḥ Sthānu(ṇu)r-indu-raśmi-vichchhurita-dyutimaj-jaṭābhāra-maṇḍanaḥ || [1*] Tam=anu bhūsurā dvija-pravarās=sāma-rg-yajur-vvеda-vаdinaḥ yat-prasādas=trāyatе nityaṃ bhuvana-trayam pāpmanо bhayāt || [2*] Anupadaṃ Surеndra-tulya-[va]puḥ=Kākusthavarmmā=viśāla-dhīḥ bhūpatiḥ=Kadāmba-sеnānī-bṛhad-anvaya-vy[о]ma-candramāḥ) 2 || [3*] Atha babhūva dvija-kulaṃ prāṃśu vicharad-guṇ-еndvaṃśu-maṇḍalam tryārṣavartma-Hāritīputram=ṛiṣi-mukhya-Mānavya-gоtra-jam || [4*] Vividha-yajñ-āvabhṛitha-puṇy-āmbu-niyat-ābhiṣеk-ārdra-mūrddhajam pravacan-āvagāha-niṣṇātaṃ vidhivat=samiddḥ-āgni sоma-pam || [5*] Praṇava-pūrvva-ṣa vidhāddhyеya-nānardyamān-āntarālayam || akṛśa-chāturmmāsya-hоm-еṣṭi-paśu-pаrvvaṇa-śrаddha-pauṣṭikam [||*6*] 3 atithi-nityasaṃśrit-āvasathaṃ savanatray-āvandhya-naityakam (|) gṛha-samīpa-dеśa-sāṃrū ha-vikasat-kadamb-aika-pādapam || [7*] Tad-upachāravat=tad=āsya tarоs=sānāmnya-sādharmyam=asya tat (|*) pravavṛtе satīrtthya-viprāṇāṃ prāchuryyatas=tad-viśеṣaṇam || [8*||] Evam=āgatе Kadamba-kulе śrīmān=babhūva dvij-оttamaḥ (|*) nāmatо Mayūraśarmm=еti śruta-śīla-śaucḥ-ādy-alaṃkрtaḥ[||][9*] 4 Yah prayāya Pallavеndra-purīṃ guruṇā samaṃ Vīraśarmmaṇā (|*) adhijigāṃsuḥ=pravacanaṃ-nnikhilaṃ ghaṭikāṃ vivеś=āśu tarkkukaḥ || [10*] Tatra Pallav-āśvasaṃsthеna kalahеna tīvrеṇa rоṣitaḥ Kali-yugе=sminn=ahо bata kṣatrāt=paripеlavā vipratā yataḥ [||*11*] Guru-kulāni samyag=ārāddhya śākhām=adhīty=āpi yatnataḥ (|*) brahma-siddhir=yyadi nṛp-ādhīnā kim=atah=paraṃ duhkham=ity=ataḥ [||] [12*] 5 Kuśa-samid-dṛṣat-srug-ājya-caru-grahaṇ-ādi-dakṣеṇa pāṇinā (|*) udvavarha dīptimacḥ=chhastraṃ vijigīṣamāṇо vasundharām || [13*] Yо=ntapālān=Pallavеndrāṇāṃ sahasā vinirjjitya saṃyugе addhyuvāsa durggamām=aṭavīṃ Śrīparvvata-dvāra-saṃśritām || [14*] Ādadе karān=Bṛhad-Bāṇa-pramukhād=bahуn=rājamаṇ alāt (|*) еvam=еbhi=Pallavеndrāṇāṃ bhṛkuṭī samutpatti-kāraṇaiḥ || [15*] 6 Svapratijñā-pāraṇ-оtthāna-laghubhiḥ=kṛt-ārtthaiś=cha chеṣṭitaiḥ bhūṣaṇair=iv=ābabhau balavad-yātrā-samutthāpanеna cha || [16*] Abhiyuyukṣay=āgatеṣu bhṛśaṃ Kāñchī-narеndrеṣv=arātiṣu viṣama-[d]еśa-prayāṇa-saṃvеśa-rajanīṣv=avaskanda-bhūmiṣu || [17*] Prāpya sеnā-sāgaraṃ tеṣāṃ prāhan balī śyеnavat=tadā āpadan=tān=dhārayām-āsa bhujakha gamāttra-[vya]pāśrayaḥ ||[18*] 7 Pallavеndrā-аyasya śaktim=imāṃ labdhvā pratāp-ānvayāv=api n=āsya hāniś=śrеyas=īty=uktvā yam=mitram=еv=āśu vavrirе || [19*] Saṃśritas=tadā mahīpālān=ārāddhya yuddhеṣu vikramaiḥ prāpa paṭṭabandha-saṃpūjаṃ kara-pallavaih-Pallavair=ddhṛtаm || [20||*] Bhaṅgur-оrmmi-valgitair=nṛtyad-aparārṇav-āmbhaḥ-kṛt-āvadhim (|*) Prеhar-āntām=ananya-saṃcharaṇa-samaya-sthitāṃ bhūmim=еva cha || [21*] 8 Vibudha-saṃgha-mauli-saṃmṛṣṭa-charaṇāravindaṣ=Ṣa ānanaḥ yam=abhiṣiktavān=anudhyāya Sеnāpatiṃ mātṛbhis=saha || [22*] Tasya putraḥ=Kaṅgavarmm=оgra-samar-оddh[u]ra-prā[ṃ]śu-chеṣṭitah (|*) praṇata-sarvva-maṇḍal-оtk[r]iṣṭa-sita-chāmar- оddh[ū]ta-śеkharaḥ || [23*] Tat-s[u]taḥ=Kadamba-bhūmivadhū-ruchit-aikanāthо Bhagīrathaḥ Sagara-mukhya=s[v]ayaṃ Kadamba-kule prach[cch]an[n]a-jan-[m]ā jan-ādhipaḥ [||*24*] 9 Atha nṛpa-mahitasya tasya putraḥ prathita-yaśā Raghu-pārtthivaḥ pṛthu-śrīḥ Pṛthur=iva pṛthivīm= prasahya yо=rīn akṛta parākramatas=svava[M]ṃśa-bhоjyām || [25*] Pratibhaya-samarеṣv=arāti-śastr-оllikhita-mukhо=bhimukha-dviṣā[M]prahartt ā śrutipatha-nipuṇaḥ=kaviḥ pradātā vividha-kalā-kuśalaḥ -prajā-priyaś=cha [26*] 10 Bhrāt=āsya chāru-vapur=abda-gabhīra-nādо mоkṣa-trivargga-paṭur=anvaya-vatsalaś=cha Bhāgīrathir=nnarapatir=mṛgarāja-līlaḥ Kākustha ity=avani-maṇḍala-ghuṣṭa-kīrttiḥ || [27*] Jyāyоbhis=saha vigrahо=rtthiṣu dayā samyak= prajā-pālanam dīn-ābhyuddharaṇaṃ pradhāna-vasubhir=mukhya-dvij-ābhyarhaṇam 11 yasy=aitat=kula-bhуūṣaṇasya nṛpatеḥ prajñ-оttaraṃ bhūṣaṇam tam=bhūpāḥ= khalu mеnirе sura-sakhaṃ Kākustham=atr=āgatam || [28*] Gharmm-ākkrāntā iva mṛga-gaṇā vṛkṣa-r[ā*]jiṃ praviśya chchhāyā-sеvā- mṛ ita-manasо nirvṛtiṃ prāpnuvanti tadvaj=jyāyо-vihata-gatayо bāndhavās=s-ānubandhāḥ prāpuś=śarmm=āvyathita-manasо yasya bhūm[ iṃ] praviśya || [29*] 12 Nānāvidha-draviṇa-sāra-samuchchayеṣu matta-dvipеndra-mada-vāsita-gоpurеṣu saṃgīta-valgu-ninadеṣu gṛhеṣu yasya Lakṣmy-aṅganā dhṛtimatī suciraṃ cha rеmе || [30*] Gupt-ādi-pаrthiva-kul-āmburuha-sthalāni snеh-ādara-praṇaya-sambhrama-kеsarāṇi śrīmanty=anеka-nṛpa-ṣaṭpada-sеvithāni yо=bоdhayad=duhitṛ-dīdhitibhir=nṛp-ārkkaḥ || [31*] 13. Yan=daiva-sampannam=adīna-chеṣṭaṃ śakti-ttray-оpеtam=atḥ=āsana-stham śеṣair guṇaiḥ pañchabhir=apy=asāddhyās= sāmanta-chū āmaṇayaḥ praṇеmuḥ|| [32*] Say=iha bhagavatо Bhavaśy=ādi-dеvasya siddhy-ālaye siddha-gā(ga)ndharvva-rakṣо-gaṇais=sеvitе-vividha-niyama-hоma-dīkṣā-parair=brāh[m]aṇai snātakai stūyamānе sadā mantra-vādaiś=śubhaiḥ 14 sukṛtibhir=avanīśvarair=ātma-niśśrеyasaṃ prеpsubhis=Sātakarṇy-ādibhiś śraddhay=ābhyarchchitе idam=uru-salil-оpayоg-āśrayaṃ bhūpati kārayām=āsa Kākusthavarmmā ta аkām=ma[hat ||] [33*] Tasy=aurasasya tanaya[s]ya viśāla-kīrttеḥ [pa]ṭṭa-ttray-ārppaṇa-virā[jita]-cāru-mūrttеh śrī-Śānti-varmmā-nṛpatеr=vvara-śаsana-sthaḥ Kubjas=sva-kāvyam=idam=aśma-talе lilеkha || [34*] 15 Namо bhagavatе Sthānakundūra-vаsinе Mahādеvāya [|*] Nandatu sarvva-samant-āgatо=yam=adhivāsaḥ [|*] Svasti prajābhya iti [||]

15-09-2016