115 
1898.] Dr. Hoernle-—Two Copper-plate Grants of Ratnapala. 
(11.) “Single -handed he overcame his enemy in battle: why 
indeed should this appear strange to his detractors, (seeing that) on this 
point Kara and Hari are examples, and Bhisma and indeed many others 
besides.” Thus arguing, his warriors have always thought very highly 
of (the conduct of) their home-staying (king), seeing that his enemies 
fled away in all eight directions. 8 
(12.) His desire being stimulated by the taste of the joys due to 
his prosperity, he married a young woman who by reason of her devotion 
to her people bore the name of Kuladevi, which is, as it were, the stand¬ 
ing name for Laksmi (or ‘ good fortune ’) attainable by (all) rulers 
sprung from any (noble) family of the world. 9 
(13.) By him, who had such a reputation, was begotten on her a 
son called Ratnapala, who gained renown because his people justly con¬ 
cluded that a jewel-like king would, by his good qualities, foster the 
most Worthy among them. 10 
(14.) By reason of the elephants’ pearls, carried forth by the 
impetus of the unrestrainable stream of blood running from the split 
foreheads of the elephants of his enemies, 11 * his (i.e., Ratnapala’s) battle¬ 
field looked beautiful like a market-place strewn with the stores of 
merchants, and ruby-coloured through (the blood of) the slain. ]2 
(15.) Then having placed him (i.e., Ratnapala) on the throne to 
be to the dynasty of Naraka what the sun is to the lotuses, he (i.e., 
Brahmapala), the spotless champion, went to heaven ; for noble-minded 
men who know the good and the evil of the world know to do that 
which is suitable to the occasion. 13 
(Second Plate : obverse: line 28 : Prose.) In his capital, the heat 
(of the weather) was relieved b} T the copious showers of ruttisli water 
flowing from the temples of his troops of lusty (ware-)elephants which 
had been presented to him by hundreds of kings conquered by the power 
of his arms entwined in clusters of flashes of his sharp sword. Though 
8 Brahmapala appears to have been of a mild and peaceable disposition ; and 
this is the way that the poets expresses that fact. His son Ratnapala formed the 
strongest contrast to him, being a very strong and warlike ruler, with a very long 
reign. 
9 There is here a play on the word hula or ‘ (good) family’. Kula-devi means 
a (goddess or) queen of good family or of all good families. 
10 There is here a play on the word ratna or ‘jewel.’ A ratna-upama or ‘jewel 
like ’ prince may be expected to become a ratna-pdla or ‘jewel-protecting’ kiug. 
H This refers to the well-known Indian fable of certain pearls which are found 
in the frontal protuberances of certain elephants. 
1* Both grants read padmardg'i. The correct form, however, would seem to be 
padmaragd. 
18 The emendation sarhvidrate was suggested by Pandit Hava Prasad Shastri* 
