1897.] 
R. Hoernle *— The Nowgong Copper-plate. 
293 
Translation. 
(Verse 1.) May the splendour of Rudra (i.e., fiva), which cleaves 
the darkness of (this) mundane existence, conduce to the peace of the 
world : it becomes the whole . 
(2.) May the pure water of the river Lauhitya, beautifully 
spotted (like the moon) by the ichor (dropping) from the (ruttish) 
elephants of the gods, and perfumed with the musk of the deer 
(living) on the ridges of the Kailasa mountain, remove (all) your sins. 
(3.) Of Upendra (i.e., Visnu), who, assuming the form of a boar, 
rescued the earth when she had sunk in the great flood at the time of 
the universal dissolution, Naraka was the son, the friend of the Asuras, 
(4.) who deprived Mahendra of his glory gained by his victory 
over the three worlds, and stole the pair of earrings of Aditi which 
dangled on her cheeks. 
(5.) He, having conquered (the country of) Kamarupa 44 took 
up his residence in that country in the town of Pragjyotisa, which 
offered him areca-nut wrapped in (leaves of) the betel plant, and 
oil of black aloe-wood (as a symbol of his coronation as king). 
(6.) While living there in his park in which peacocks danced 
to the flapping of the ears of his state-elephants blind with rut, and 
having, in battle, obtained the discus of Murari ( i.e ., Visnu) he ascended 
to heaven, eager for battle (with the gods.) 
(7.) His son was king Bliagadatta, a hero of a unique kind, 
whose footstool was touched by the crown-jewels of (many) princes, 
who was renowned for pleasing his subjects, and who was a leader 
of all castes and stages of life. 45 
(8.) When he had gone up to the abode of the gods, his younger 
brother A ajradatta became the lord of the land, of whom the poets have 
declared that he was a sovereign of unblemished faith in lea (i e., piva). 
(9.) After the kings of his line had enjoyed the earth, moated 
round by the sea and (covered) with fields and forests, and had passed 
away, there arose king Salastambha. 
There is here a play on the word kama-rupa which is not expressible in 
translation. Naraka, who is described as jita-kama-rupa , is said to take up his 
abode in kamarupa, The phrase may also be translated : “ having conquered 
kamarupa, or ‘ the form of desires,’ he took np his abode in that (country) which has 
the form ( rupa) of kdma, or ‘(the god of) desires.’” The common tradition, as Mr. 
Gait informs me, with regard to Kamarupa is that it is the place where Kamadeva, 
the god of love, recovered his form after being turned into ashes by Qiva. There is 
a similar play on Kamarupa in the Ratnapala grant, see Vol. LXVII. 
Here is again a verbal conceit, untranslatable, in varnna, which means both 
‘distinction’ and ‘caste.’ Agrama refers to the four brahmanic stages of life of 
the student, householder, anchorite, and mendicant. 
J. i. 38 
