494 Sanscrit Inscription from Behar. [June, 



beings, the sole bridge by which the soul-wearied can cross this world- 

 ocean, the midway of which is hard to pass in consequence of those 

 sharks, our sins ! May that holy one protect this whole world, he who 

 is firmly seated in wisdom, he who was left unassailed by the God of 

 desire, for Kdmadeva's reflection was this : — * If I am powerless against 

 this Lord of the three worlds, when all my agents united, — (women, 

 odours, the spring time, moonlight, and all other things that incite to 

 love) have failed to attract his thoughts, why need I be ashamed V 



" There is in the northern quarter, placed in the loveliest of lands, the 

 best of places, named Nagarahdra. There, there was a twice-born man 

 named Indragupta, a friend of the king, who had been born in the 

 country called Bengal. That worthiest of the twice-born was insepar- 

 ably united with his wife Bajjoka, as the moon is with its lustrous 

 digits ; and when people spoke of the histories of devoted wives, the 

 first name mentioned was always hers,. To those two there was born a 

 son, most sagacious, who, even whilst he was reckoned a child, in con- 

 sequence of his desire to know of the other world, abandoned his com- 

 fortable home, where every luxury was at his command, in order 

 ascetically to follow the instructions of Buddha. 



" Having perused all the Vedas and having pondered the Sdstras, he 

 went to the holy convent called Kanishka, where the best of teachers 

 were to be found, and which was famous for the quietism of its fre- 

 quenters. There he devoted himself to asceticism. 



"This student became adorned by qualities, practices, and fame like 

 those of his teacher, renowned for purest virtues. Viradeva was his 

 name. The sages honored him, for he was pure from stain as the new 

 moon. 



" Once he went to visit the greatest of the Buddhas Vajrdsana (the 

 occupant of the adamantine throne) ; then he went to the city of Behar, 

 the city of king Yasovarmmd, to visit the holy mendicants and their 

 disciples. He, the quintessence of truth, having staid long there, 

 received the respectful attentions of the Lord of the land, Sri Devapdla. 

 Resplendent he shone, daily fulfilling the hopes of men, as the sun, 

 filling the four quarters of the heavens, dispels the darkness. 



" He was the friend of the pious mendicant Satyabodhi, intent on 

 keeping the road to salvation ; he was as close a friend to him as his own 

 soul, as his own arm. Practising all the duties of asceticism, he raised, 



