1898. J Dr. Hoernle— Two Copper-plate Grants of Batnapala. 113- 
Translation. 
(First Plate : line 1) Hail! 
(Verse 1.) “He maybe seen incessantly exhibiting his beautiful 
white figure, 1 in the Tandava (dance) according to the strict rules of that 
dance, (guided) by the stainless reflection of his body formed on his own 
nails: even thus does parjkara (or Civa), who, though like the Supreme 
Being he is endowed with the quality of omnipresence (lit., expansion), 
assumes numberless forms at his absolute will, shine forth as the Lord 
of the World for the sake of the welfare of that (world). 
(2.) “ What ? Is it that here flows the light of the white rays (of 
the moon) in congelation, or a solution of crystals; or is it that the 
beautiful paqkarl (or female counterpart of piva) and his Qaktl (or 
energy) is intently engaged in marking quick-time music in its prime¬ 
val form ? ” 2 It may be with such musings as these about the nature of 
its water that the happy population (of the country) quickly resorts to 
that river Lauhitya (or Brahmaputra), which by removing all sins pro¬ 
tects the world. 
(Verse 3.) Of Hari ( i.e ., Visnu) who, in the form of a boar, raised 
the earth when she had sunk beneath the ocean, Naraka of the Asura 
(or demon) race was the son, who acted the very part of the moon to 
the personal charms of the ladies of the Suras (or gods); 3 
(4.) Who, declaring Aditi to be a woman, weak, decrepit, timid, 
stupid, deserted by her kinsmen, and overtaken by misfortune, conquered 
the Suras, and snatched away her ear-rings which were precious as being 
typical of the glory of the Suras. 
(5.) In Pragjy5tisa, the best of towns, provided with brilliant 
troops of warriors like systems of suns, and lovely-faced women of many 
kinds, he took up his residence, after he had acquired prosperity, equal 
in pleasantness to the pride of his arms. 
(6.) “I am grown too old (to engage) in war, and my father will 
gain a brilliant reputation,” bethinking himself thus, out of kindly 
consideration, he lived carelessly : so Hari removed him to heaven. 
1 The reading sosagveva appears to be corrupt, and I can make nothing satis¬ 
factory of it. The SualkucI grant here fails to help. I have taken so as prakritic 
for sa; compare ante, line 50, ya, footnote 97. 
2 Or, as Dr. Bloch suggests, it may be translated: “ intently engaged in 
dividing the original current, ” of the heavenly Ganges in Qiva’s matted hair accord¬ 
ing to the well-known mythological story. 
3 The moon beholds the charms of the Apsai'ases; so did Naraka, of whom it is 
related that lie “ seized the daughters of the Gandharvas and of gods and men, as 
well as the Apsarases themselves.” See Dowson’s Classical Dictionary of Hindu 
Mythology, sub voce Naraka. Suggestion of Dr. Bloch. 
J. l. 15 
