The Colas c18.4

c18.4

The most common form of Rājēndra's Tamil *praśasti* is that which begins *tiru manni vaḻara*. We come across this form as early as the third year, though it is more generally employed only from the fifth. This introduction progressively increases in length by the narration of fresh conquests until the thirteenth year, after which date it becomes stereotyped. By tracing its growth we are able to fix the internal chronology of the reign with a precision not often attained in the annals of Ancient India. Another Tamil *praśasti* known so far from only one inscription⁵ of the tenth year, gives some particulars about Pāṇḍyan affairs which are confirmed by the Tiruvālangāḍu plates. In another inscription dated in the twenty-fourth year,⁶ the Tamil *praśasti* follows the usual form up to the conquest of Takkaṇalāḍam, and then copies the *praśasti* of another king; most probably a mistake occurred in the re-engraving and two inscriptions got mixed up.⁷ Lastly, the account given of Rājēndra's military achievements in the Sanskrit part of the Tiruvālangāḍu plates was written, quite obviously,⁸ after all conquests were over, and by the side of indications gained from the different stages of the Tamil *praśasti* in different years, this Sanskrit account must be held to be of decidedly inferior import to the chronology of the reign. But the poet Nārāyaṇa who composed the long Sanskrit *praśasti* is entitled to our admiration not only for his high literary quality but for the attention he gives to the facts of his patron's reign which is fuller than is usual with court-poets. In fact, his account forms, at several points, a valuable supplement to the Tamil *praśasti*.