1839.] Inscribed Slab found near Chhatarpur. 177 



5. Excellent is that young elephant, who in his immature age, 

 eager to snatch the tender filaments of the lotus, thrusts his proboscis 

 on the section of the moon, fixed on the brow of Siva, and who is 

 struck by MridVni' (smiling in her anger) with the agitated lotus 

 sprout on her head ( 9 ) 



6. Truly, in the beginning of the kalpa, the universe proceeded 

 from Brahma wishing to create, when he had perceived the eternal 

 void, enveloped in darkness and merely atmosphere. From him, when 

 he had finished, proceeded the air. In that was produced fire; from 

 fire proceeded water ; from that prolific cause proceeded Brahma's 

 vast golden egg, streaked with rays of light. 



7- By his wisdom, from the two segments of that egg Brahma 

 created his sons, the seven Munis (Marichi and the rest) the abode 

 of holiness. 



8. Amongst these dark-dispelling, intelligent Munis, was the illus- 

 trious Atri of celebrated greatness ; in the cavity of whose eye, was 

 produced the orb of the moon, whose abundant light radiates like 

 luxuriant hair. From him was born his pure son Chandratreya. 



9. Who can measure the glory and greatness of that holy man, the 

 beloved image of the Omniscient, pure in soul ; of him, who hath assured 

 heaven and beatitude to the whole world, illumined with light, sur- 

 passed by his excessive splendor, dispelling all doubt and illusion ? 



. 10. From him sprung the wonderful Vayvaryama — faultless — na- 

 turally upright— of excellent disposition — eminent — unprejudiced — 

 symmetrical from his large upper extremities — not slightly observant 

 of fasts— fruitful to the root, — and never wasted by the spontaneous 

 fire of cruel foes, the votaries of misfortune.( lu ) 



11. As long as the moon (endures) the sovereigns of the race of 

 Chandratreya illuminate the earth. \_ The rest of this sloka is wanting.~\ 



12. Reverence to those ancient monarchs through whom the surface 

 of the earth was encompassed by kings, who were friendly to the faith 

 which has descended down — unvexed even when their lives were 

 begged — strictly adhering to truth — who robbed of vermilion tint, the 

 coronal streaksC 11 ) of the wives of the powerful but rebellious chief- 

 tains. 



9. Durga' is described as fondling a young Elephant. One of Siva's names is 

 Miuda', or delighted; whence his consort is called MridVni. 



10. A double meaning pervades this verse ; the epithets have a twofold sense, one 

 applicable to the saint, and one to a tree. It would be impossible to preserve the 

 double entendre in the translation. 



11. The Hindu wife stains the line on the head made by the partition of the hair 

 with red lead. The widow abstains from this and other ornaments. 



