The Colas c23.55

c23.55

the carp might gain the upper hand in the land of Kanni (Pāṇḍya country), (he) spread (over the land) horses and elephants, fierce (in war), and consigned to the red flames (of fire) (the cities of) Tañjai and Uṟandai; destroyed the excellence of the crystal water in the wells and rivers, so that the *kāvi* and *nīlam* (flowers) lost their beauty; razed (to the ground) many pavilions, high ramparts, great enclosures, towers, theatres, palaces, mansions and *maṇḍapas*; drew tears in streams from the eyes of the women belonging to the kings who did not come to make their submission; ploughed (the enemy country) with asses and sowed *kavaḍi* (coarse millet); fought the Śembiyan (Cōḷa) till his anger abated, and drove him into the wilderness; seized (his) crown of fine gold, and was pleased to give it to the Bāṇa;¹¹¹ spread his fame by performing a *vīrābhiṣēka* in the coronation hall of the Cōḷa Vaḷava at Āyirattaḷi, which was too good for verse and had a golden enclosure which touched the sky (traversed by) the Sun; mounted the strong rutting elephant which returned each day after plucking the fearful heads of enemy kings; accompanied only by his fair arms and (his) sharp disc which abolished common (ownership) of the whole earth surrounded by the water (ocean), he entered the sacred precincts of the divine Puliyūr, where dwelt the Brahmins whose knowledge of the excellent Veda was free from doubts, and (there) rejoiced in his heart at the sight of the sacred form of the (god) who, with the goddess on his side, so danced that the golden hall increased in lustre, and made obeisance to the flower-like red feet, unattained alike by Brahmā (seated) on the beautiful flower and Viṣṇu (wearing) the cool basil; and seated in the shining crystal *maṇḍapa*, resembling the high Mēru, the support of the world, brought and fixed in Pon-Amarāvati surrounded by lotus ponds, in which the humming of bees roused from their sleep swans with curved wings, he invited (the Cōḷa) saying (that he would) restore (to him) the Cōḷa land rich in gardens and fields, and the garland and crown he had lost; the Vaḷava, who had got beyond the Vālagiri after he had lost (his) high estate, now entered with his relatives, presented his son (to the Pāṇḍya) saying: