1897.] 
295 
R. Hoernle —The Nowgong Copper-plate. 
(19.) By him was produced from her, just as fire from a stick 
of wood by one who understands the process, an excellent son, the 
celebrated Balavarman, endowed with every virtue, 
(20.) with eyes resembling the undulating flowers of the blue lotus, 
with a thick-set neck and well-formed arms, and with a figure as 
beautiful as a fresh lotus flower just opened under the touch of the 
rays of the rising sun. 
(21.) Once when the appointed time came, through the power of 
his maturing )karma (or actions done in a previous life), that king Vira- 
bahu, while distinguishing himself in war, was attacked by a disease 
(contracted) through neglect of medical advice. 
(22.) Considering that the world is vain and human life unstable 
like a water-drop, he bethought himself of what remained for him to do. 
(23.) So, on an auspicious day, the king transferred in the pre¬ 
scribed form, his throne and crown to that son of his, who was tall 
of body, in appearance like a lion-cub. 
(24.) Thereafter taking possession of that great kingdom, as 
the fire does of clarified butter, Balavarman also shone forth as an 
extinguisher of all his enemies whom he expelled. 
(25.) Near that pure river Lauhitya, the current of which was 
agitated by the foreheads of his victorious elephants, there stands that 
ancestral encampment of his. 
(Prose.) There, while residing in that excellent camp, Harup- 
pe 9 vara by name, having conquered all potentates in dire contest by his 
arm which showed dark against the numerous flashes of his drawn sword- 
blade, fearful of disgrace, harsh towards enemies, gentle towards religious 
preceptors, truth-speaking, not contentious nor vaunting, generous, 
and purified from sin through the reverence shown to his father and 
mother, the Paramegvara , Parama-bhattaraka , Maharajadhircija, the 
illustrious Balavarma Deva, being prosperous (does, as follows) : 
On the southern side (of the river Brahmaputra), situated within 
the district of Dijjinna, and producing four thousand (measures) of rice, 
there is the land called Heqsiva. To all and several who reside near 
that (land), (the king) sends his greetings, and enjoins, informs, and 
commands them, viz ., the (common) people of the Brahman and other 
castes, headed by the district revenue officials and their clerks, as well 
as the other (higher-class) people culminating in the Ranakas, Rajnis 
and Rajas, and in fact all who may reside there in future at any time. 18 
48 See ante, p. 18, footnote 10. The Visaya or (in full) Visaya-vyavaharika 
would be the district officer corresponding to the modern ‘ Collector,’ and the Karana 
or Karana-vyavaharika would be the officers of his court or his clerks. The list enu¬ 
merates the several grades of the nobility, bureaucracy and commonalty. 
