The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c44.3.2

c44.3.2

The greater part of each inscription is usually devoted to an account of the king during whose reign the grant had been made, and these accounts have been of great use in reconstructing the family trees of the various dynasties, beside giving a fair amount of detail concerning their intercourse with, and their expeditions against their neighbours. The praises of the kings mentioned are sung *ad nauseam*, and in the most extravagant language. The statement of the object for which the slab had been set up occupies but a few lines at the end, while the closing sentences utter a terrible curse upon all who should dare to alienate the same. Here is an account of a king's virtues: He is described as "A sun to the darkness of the Chōḷa king, Garuḍa to the extended serpent Kaḷinga, a thunderbolt to the mountain, the Nēpāḷa king, a lion to the rogue-elephant the Āndhra king, a wild-fire to the forest Maḷava, a moon to the Chālukya lotus". Such was Baḷḷāḷa Hoysaḷa, on hearing the sound of whose twanging bow "Chōḷa was driven out of his mind, Pāṇḍya escaped by night to the summit of a mountain together with his army, Vaṅga, Kaḷinga, and Magadha, though kings over mighty hosts, fled. When he flashed his sword, Lāḷa stood bewildered, Magadha trembled, Āndhra was blinded, Gaula was split in two, the Koṅkaṇa king was terror-stricken, Nēpāḷa dropped his bow, Maḷava in despair fled to the desert and fell, Chōḷa took to howling"².