South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c8.40

c8.40

¹ There are three points upon which I differ regarding the interpretation of the Śrīrangam Epigraph of Kulottunga III. (S. I. Ins. iii. 88).
(1) In line 3, there is the statement that Vira Pāṇḍya’s son had his nose cut off as a mark of disgrace—Vira Pāṇḍya, to wipe off this disgrace, raised an army and fought the battle of Neṭṭūr.
(2) In line 4 occurs the expression வீரபாண்டியன் முடித்தலையுங் கொண்டமர் முடித்து, i.e., bringing the war to a close by taking off the crowned-head of Vira Pāṇḍya (No. 370 of 1915); then follows அவன்மடக் கொடியை வளம்ஏற்றி. The word ‘Veḷam’ is read ‘Veḷam,’ and interpreted as ‘the Pāṇḍya queen having been sent into the harem’ (in concubinage apparently). The correct word is Veḷam with the short e meaning service in Veḷāṭṭi. Cf. வெளத்துப் பெண்டாட்டி கள்ளிச்சி in Pudukoṭṭa No. 82 in course of publication. The Pāṇḍya queen was reduced to servitude in the Chola harem (see note 4, p. 215 and note 5, p. 218, S. I. Ins. iii. 88, and the inscriptions printed below 2 and 3.
(3) Line 5 கொடிவழங்கும் வில்லவர்க்கு means, I submit, ‘to the Villavan (Kēraḷa) on whose flag is usually seen the bow,’ whose ensign was the bow. To him Kulottunga gave wealth that kings never obtain. The whole point of the record is that Kulottunga was as great in war as he was liberal in gifts, to justify his hoisting of ‘the banners of generosity and valour.’