Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v1.c9.s44: No. 53. Pō Klauṅ Garai rock inscription of Parameśvaravarman I, dated 972 Ś
Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champā; Vol. II: Suvarṇadvīpa) v1.c9.s44
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No. 53. Pō Klauṅ Garai rock inscription of Parameśvaravarman I, dated 972 Ś
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The inscription was discovered in 1901 by M. Parmentier and edited by M. Finot (B. E. F., Vol. III, p. 634 (No. VI) and pp. 643 ff.). Pō Klauṅ Garai is the name of one of the most beautiful ancient temples in the plain of Phanrang. The inscription is engraved on the three faces of a triangular pyramidal rock in front of this temple. The three faces have respectively five, seven and six lines of writing. The first four lines and a part of the fifth are written in Sanskrit, and the rest in Cham. The Sanskrit portion begins with ‘Svasti’ and contains two verses.
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The inscription refers to the king of Champā Parameśvaravarman Dharmarāja, whose fame as a conqueror spread to Kambudeśa (Cambodge), and records the installation of a Śivaliṅga by his Yuvarāja (heir-apparent) and commander-in-chief in 972 Śaka. (cf. B. E. F., Vol. XV, No. 2, p. 39).
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Then follows the Cham text giving the detailed account of a revolt of the people of Phanrang against the king, and its suppression by the Yuvarāja. After suppressing the revolt the yuvarāja installed the Śivaliṅga and a column of victory.
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स्वस्ति ।
नाज्ञा श्री युवराजो यस्सेनाप्रभुरतिष्ठिपत् ।
लिङ्गमूव्व्याश्चिरङ्गीत्यै कर्णाद्र्यात्मकाधिपे ॥
सकलजनमनोभिराम×(अ)न्द्रो
रणविदितोऽग्रयशोनिविष्टकम्बुदेशः ।
वरजनगदितोऽद्य दानपुण्ये
भुवि च विभात्यनिशं स चम्पदेशपाली ॥
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TRANSLATION.
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Hail!
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The yuvarāja (by name ?), the commander of army, installed this liṅga in the world for eternal glory, in the year of the Śaka king denoted by ‘Karṇna-adri-ātmā’ (972).
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The protector of the kingdom of Champā—who charms the hearts of all people, whose great glory in battle has penetrated into the Kambu country (Cambodge), and who is even now praised by excellent men for his merit accruing from liberality;—constantly flourishes in this world.
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Now the citizens of Panrāṅ,—wicked, vicious and stupid,—were always in revolt against all the sovereigns who reigned in the kingdom of Champā. Thus during the rule of Parameśvaravarmadeva Dharmarāja, the rebels proclaimed a native of the city as their king. As the king Parameśvaravarman was active and had numerous subjects, he sent troops in various batches and ordered his nephew the yuvarāja Mahāsenāpati to proceed with all his generals and conquer the city. All the troops of Panrāṅ came to fight. He pursued and crushed them all and they took shelter in mountains and caverns. But the yuvarāja who had a powerful army ordered his troops to pursue them in all directions. And these troops got hold of all the people of Panrāṅ with oxen, buffaloes, slaves and elephants, on behalf of king Parameśvaravarmadeva Dharmarāja. He . . . . . the half of the people . . . . . he ordered them to dwell there in order to re-establish the city. The other half he gave to temples, monasteries, religious buildings, Sālās, and hermitages for the sake of his own merit. Then the yuvarāja asked stones of the various troops and erected this liṅga. He also raised a column of victory. And on account of his piety to Śiva, when the people of this country saw the beauty and the marks of this liṅga . . . . . they resolved to give up their revolts against the king of Champā who was always victorious.