300 Account of Tamba Patra Plates found at Baroda. [April, 



Translation of Tamba'Patra Plates. 



1. May he in whose lily-like navel Brahma* took his abode, and with 

 whose wife's brother (i. e. the moon) Siva is ornamented, protect you. 



2. There was a Raja named Govinda Raja who was the superior of 

 his race, and the ornament of the Surastra kingdom ; he was sprung from 

 a spotless line, a hero in enterprize, and most valiant in war. 



3. He (Govinda Raja) was most gallant, intelligent, and victorious at 

 his first glance over all. His armies were like ploughs rooting up the 

 royal families (of his enemies). He never adored other gods but Siva, 

 the god of gods. 



4. From him, anxious to obtain children, was born through the favor 

 of Siva, Karka Raja, who was possessed of all good qualities. The 

 name was well adapted to him. 



5. His (Karka Raja's) kingdom, (which lost the appellation 

 Sowrdjya through the ruin that had fallen upon it, but the remains of 

 the splendour of which are esteemed by the universe) was formerly 

 governed jointly by the descendants of this race, but afterwards by him 

 alone. 



6. Men were struck with surprise by his restoring the Vrisha to its 

 four legs, which had been reduced to one by Kali' (yuga), and by his 

 making it to walk without limping.* 



7. It is not wonderful that he governed his people with propriety, 

 (being so gifted) ; having placed Vishnu as the object of his meditation, 

 he (died and) was succeeded by his son named Krishna Raja, who was 

 virtuous, and like the son of Dharma (Ju'dhistiii'ra) : he expelled 

 those who were addicted to evil, for the prosperity of his line and reign. 



8. His devotion to Brahmans was unspeakable and confirmed, and 

 those who were only nominally Brahmans (i. e. who had fallen off from 

 their religion) resumed their former rites through the greedy desire of 

 obtaining gifts from him, which were due to more perfect Brahmans. 



9. By his constant liberality the minds of his attendants were 

 refreshed like those of farmers by exuberant showers. 



10 He who was like a lion among Rajas, and powerful in sovereign- 

 ty, overcame his boar-like rivals like deers ; though their teeth, curved 

 like bows, were radiant with the rays of heroism, and they itched witli 

 the desire of fight. 



1 1 The immortals walking on the firmament, being astonished with 



* This is a figurative mode of saying "That he restored to virtue the three parts 

 which it is supposed to have lost in the Kali yuga," the word for quarter Tf"[2 being the 

 same as for foot, makes the conceit which gives point to this expression. 



