History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c13.s1.13

c13.s1.13

³ Other details of the king in somewhat exaggerated terms are also available from this copper-plate grants. Some interesting personal accomplishments and qualities are furnished in the *praśasti* portion of the Kaśākkuḍi grant composed by Trivikra[m]. In verse 29 we read:—‘This Śrīdhara (Pallavamalla) resembles Vijaya in battle, Karṇisuta, in acquaintance with the arts, Rāma in archery, the king of Vatsa with reference to the science of elephants and to music, Kāma in the opinion of women, the first poet (Vālmīki) in the composition of poetry, the master of policy (Bṛhaspati) himself in suggesting expedients, and (Dharma) Yudhiṣṭhira in delighting the subjects.’ Verse 2 of the Taṇḍantōṭṭam plates say of him:—‘From him (Hiraṇyavarman) was born the wise and the prosperous king called Nandivarman who was the home of prowess and conqueror of the hoards of his enemies, whose victorious elephant reached almost the shores of the four oceans, whose fame extended to the four quarters and who was praised in battle for his knowlede in the use of all weapons. Verse 3 of the same record says, ‘The only one of name Raja that did not bow to him was the dead-rayed moon and the only country in this world that did not pay tribute to him was that where no men exist. And while this king comparable to Indra was ruling the earth, there was nothing unapproachable by the people except perhaps the way leading to hell.’ ‘He is the lord of the circle of good people as Hari is the possessor of the powerful weapon Chakra, him the wise cling to as Gods to Sakra (Indra). ‘He wore on his breast, as it were the lord of serpents, the bed of Achyuta dwelling near his heart a necklace, which he had snatched away from the Ganga king and in which was the gem called Ugrōdaya like the Kaustuba (*verse 6*).’