24. Ràjim stone inscription.
EI, XXVI, No. 3, 49-58 (V.V.Mirashi); IO, II, II, 98-103 (S. Rajaguru);

Ràjim is a well-known holy place, 28 miles south by east of Raipur, the head-quarters of the Raipur District in the Central Provinces. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Mahànadè at the junction of the Pairi with that river. A fair is held there for a fortnight from the full-moon day of Màgha in honour of the god Ràjèvalîchana. The principal temples at Ràjim are those of Ràjèvalîchana, Ràmachandra and Kulåùvara. They have been described in detail by Mr. Beglar and General Cunningham in the Archaeological Survey of India Reports, Vol. VII, pp. 148-56 and Vol. XVII, pp. 6-20, respectively. Mr. Cousens [P.R.A.S.W.I. for 1903-04, pp. 24 ff.] and Mr. Longhurst [An. Rep. A.S.E.C. for 1907-08, p. 35.] who visited the place in 1903 and 1907 have also written notes on them in their respective Progress Reports.
As early as 1825 Mr. Richard Jenkins, who was Resident at Nagpur, drew attention to three inscriptions at Ràjim, of which he sent eye-copies and facsimiles to Mr. W. B. Bayley, Vice President of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [Asiatic Researches, Vol. XV, pp. 501 and 511.] One of these was the copper-plate inscription of Tèvaradåva, which has since been edited by Dr. Fleet in the Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. III, pp. 291 ff. The remaimng two were stone inscriptions, one of which, viz., that of Jagapàla, was later on edited by Dr. Kielhom in the Indian Antiquary, Vol. XVII, pp. 135 ff. The third inscription has, however, remained unpublished so far. Jenkins had sent a copy and a facsimile of this record also to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, but as it was too much mutilated to be decipherable with any degree of satisfaction [Loc.cit.], no transcript of it was published in the Asiatic Researches, Vol. XV which contained transcripts, imperfect of course, of the other two. The inscription was, for the first time, very briefly noticed by Dr. (then Mr.) D. R. Bhandarkar in Cousens' Progress Report of the Archaeological Survey of Western India for 1903-04, p. 48. He drew attention to the names of the princes Andapànala [Dr. Bhandarkar seems to have wrongly read khyàtî=ndapànala iti instead of khyàtî nðpî Nala iti in line 6. These words were for the first time correctly read by R. B. Hiralal.] Prithvèràja, Viróparàò and Vilàsatuêga and of the Sótradhàra Durgahastin and stated that the inscription recorded the erection of a temple of Viøíu. He, further, assigned the record to about the middle of the 8th century A. D. This account was followed by Rai Bahadur Hiralal in his Inscriptions in C. P. and Berar [ First ed. (1916), p. 103; second ed. (1932), p. 112. Hiralal read the word Pàíäava in line 4, which, if correct, would connect this family with the Sîmavaìùès. But I do not find it anywhere in this record.], but he, for the first time, correctly read the name of the king Nala in line 6. Owing presumably to its mutilated condition, the inscription has so far received little attention [Rao Bahadur C. R. Krishnamacharlu, while editing the Pîäàgaäh inscription, remarked that that was "the first stone record of the Nala dynasty' discovered till then ( above, Vol. XXI, p. 155).], but as it is the only stone record of the Nala dynasty found in the Central Provinces, I edit it here from the original stone, Cunningham's facsimile [A.S.I., Vol. XVII, plate IX.] and inked estampages taken under my supervision.
Like the aforementioned inscription of Jagapàla, the present record is incised on a slab of stone which is built into the left hand wall of the maíäapa on the temple of Ràjèvalîchana. The record contains 22 lines and at present covers a space 3' 8" broad and 1' 4" high. Some akøaras have, however, been lost on the right and left sides under the lime border.
(Note before text).
Mr. Longhurst thinks that 'the architecture of the temples at Ràjim is clumsy, lacks correct proportion and is paintfully modern'. Was the tower of the Ràjèvalîchana temple as well as its maíäapa reconstructed by Jagapàla in the 12th century A.D. ? It is to be noted, however, that his inscription built into a wall of the maíäapa records in line 14 the construction of a pràsàda (temple) in honour of Ràma, though it opens with an obeisance to Nàràyaía. Perhaps he did not make any distinction between the two. Even now the image in the temple is popularly believed to be that of Ràmachandra. Cousens, however, suggested that the slab was brought over from another temple at Ràjim, viz., that of Ràmachandra and set up in this one to lend importance to it. See P. B. A. S. W. I. for 1903-04, p. 26. (VVM)

TEXT.

[Metres: Verse 1 Mandàkràntà; vv. 2, 5, 20, 21 Sragdharà; vv. 3, 4, 8-12, 15, 22, 24-26 Ùàrdólavikrèäita; vv. 6, 13 Àryà; v, 7 Vasantatilakà; vv, 14, 17, 18, 23 Upajàti; vv. 16, 19 Indravajrà; vv. 27, 29 Anuøòubh; v. 28 Praharøiíè]

1 . . . . .[|*] ß ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß, ß ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß caritraõ | pràptakøèíànupa ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß, ß ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß [||1||*] ß ß ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß, ß ß ß
2 ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß [pt-àri]ca[kraì(kram)] | ni[rmma]thya [køèra-sindhuì] vyadadhada[ma]ra[tàì] samprahðøòaõ suràíàm=pràpta-ùrèr-yyaõ sa diùyà-cchriyam-anupahatàm-àyur-apyórjji[tåpan ?] |[|2||*] ramyå dhàvana-målaha(na ?)pravikasannèlî[tpala*] ß ÿ ß ß hðdyànupa[màì ÿ ß ÿ ÿ
3 [varàha ?] ß ÿ saukhyîcitàm | prîtphullà[mvu(mbu)]ruhasthita-dvijava[ràì] vi(bi)-bhracchriyaì sàrasèì santàpapraùma(ùama)køamaõ sa jagataõ [ùaùvatsu]khàyàstu vaõ ||[3||*] kastvaì dåvi hariõ spðùasyapasara krîäèkðtaõ kakøayà ß ß ß nipuíà mukha[pra] ÿ ÿ
4 ß ß nnatiì sà køamà | hi(tå ?) vàgbhirnna [tu] karmmaíà prakaòitaì dhi[gmà ?]ãca kà[må] ratiõ satyannaõ ùriyamityapàstarabhasàì ùliøyanprabhuõ pàtu vaõ ||[4||*] ùèryyacchailåndraùðêgaprapatanarabha-sà[du]dyadambh-îdhivèci[vyà]saêgà ß [sahå]lîcchaladati ÿ ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß
5 ÿ ghîram | uccair-yyîgèndra-lèlàviracita-vapuøî vyasta-candràrkka-tàraì yasy-àbhód-viùvamadhyàt-køaya iva sa va(ba)liùrè-nihantà hari[rvvaõ] ||[5||*] jayati prathita-mahèbhð[ttu]êga-ùirî-nihita-nija-pàdaõ | [nityî]dita-pratàpî(paõ) [pórííà ?]dityî . . . . . [||6||*]
6 [à*]sèd-vilàsinijarópajitasmarîpi ùàntàtmanàmbhuvi sadà spðhaíèyavðttaõ | khyàtî nðpî nala iti praíatàricakracóäàmaíibhramaracumvi(mbi)ta-pàdapadmaõ ||[7||*] tasyàbhónni[ja*] ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß bhóbhðtî vindhyasyå[va*] na[ga][sya*]
7 ß ÿ ÿ ÿ [radð ?]øòàtikàntînnatåõ | pðthvèràja iti kramîpacayinèì vi(bi)bhra-cchriyaì nirmmalàì såvyaõ sarvvajanasya pàpavigamàdråvà-pravàhîpamaõ ||[8||*] ß ß ß va jugupsitaõ [sa]ma[guíaiõ ?] ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß, ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ va[dhai]ryîtassa yî dhi ÿ ß |
8 [ni*]ùcinty-àtikaliprapàtamalinàmàlîkya lîkasthitiì dhàtrà sarvvaguíaiõ kðtaõ køitipati[rmmà] ß [tð] ß ß ÿ maõ ||[9||*] tasyîccai[rllapudhå ?]ùvaravyati-[karavyàptàtma]kàryî ÿ ß, [mi]tràíàì ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß | [vi*]khyàtî himavànivà ÿ ÿ
9 ÿ daõ puttraõ patir-bhóbhðtàì dhattå nàma viróparàja iti yî digvan-divðnda[stutam ||10||*] [ró*]påíàpratimaõ [ùru]tåna ca pàì satyànvi-tastyà ÿ ß [ùauryya ?] syàyatana[mbhayaì parami]ti ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß | ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß ß [gu*]íairyyasyîccai[rmanu] ß ÿ ß
10 ÿ sakalaì kèrttirjjagadbhràmyatå ||[11||*] ùatrughnîtiva(ba)låna ß ÿ [mada*]nî da[rppå]ía kèrtyà ÿ ß ß ntyàràmatanu[rvvu(rbbu)]dhaõ pðthuraíå bhèømaõ pratàpåna ca | ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß pyaõ kðtaõ ||[12||*] prati[pa*]-
11 [rvî*]dayabhàjaõ savituri ß ß dgamànuràgadharaõ | . . íaparà . . . . [||13||*] vilàsinastuêgata[mà] ÿ ß ß, vilàsatuêgaõ ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ß | ÿ ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ß, ÿ ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ß [||14||*] ß ß [kha*][êga]lat-àbhighàta ÿ ÿ
12 ß [ùaêkà]rivðndàmbhuvaì paùyåmànna samèstyanåna vijayàdhè[ùaì ?] stu[vaì ?]tånyataõ | pa ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ß ß ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ß, manyå dhèrapi ß ÿ ß ÿ [vasu ?]dhà(dhàì) kàlåna [nà] ß ÿ ß [||15||*] [ma*]tvà svadå[hànta]ritå[na] ß ß, ß ß ÿ [varíía]ntya[mu]dhàkhi[làni*]
13 [a*]ntastamuddiùya vidhàna[dð]øòadànà(na)kriyà[bhi]rnnanu sadya åva ||[16||*] yathî[cca ?] pi ß ÿ ÿ bhótalî[kå]pu[nà] ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ måva [ràjãà]m | yugasya ya ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ ß ß, pórttampra[paùya*]nti paraì smðtijãàõ ||[17||*] ÿ ß ÿ ß ß ÿ ÿ ß ÿ jå[bhyaõ] càturyaùà[stra?] ÿ ÿ ß
14 ÿ bhàvàt [|*] dharmmasya mólaì ca yaùàì vadanti ÿ ß ÿ [ta*]smàttadupàrja-nèyam ||[18||*] matvà calaì jèvitamalpasàraì [vu(bu)ddhvà] kvacitkèrttanamåva kàyam | kèrttiõ sthirà yasya sa[jè]valîkå tatpuíyamórttiùci[rajèva] åva [||19||*] ß ß ß ß ÿ ràjãà daùavadanabhujîtkøi[pta]kai[làsa*]-
15 [ùð*]êgaùrèhàri [svå]na dhàmnà sphuradamalasudhà[ni]tyana[vyå ?]ndun-åda[m] | dåvasyàùåøa-duõkhaprabhavabhayanudaõ kàritaì sthànamuccairvviøíîõ puíyàbhivðddhyai[tri]daùajanasukhàtithya-bhàjaõ sutasya ||[20||*] pràtarvvà[rvvà]làrkkarîcirvyatikaravilasa-ccàruvàmàdharàbhàì vi(bi)bhràíaì bhómibhàjàì ÿ ÿ
16 ÿ [da]mamalaì dðùyatå dðøòirasyàm | yaddóràdåva siddhair-aparamati-mahad-bhóøaíaì bhóridhàmnaõ puíyàdhàraì sumårîõ ùikharam-iva [pa]tallîlagaêgàpravàham ||[21||*] agrå tàvadupapramàía[kara*]ía prakhyàta ß ß ÿ ß, klåùapràya[m=idaì*] vyayåna mahatà sambhàrasampà[danam |*]
17 tatsiddhårala[mutsu ?]khasya punarapyà[bhî]gacintà parà lîkå sarvvalalàmakèrttanakðtàmàyàsa åvàditaõ ||[22||*] kartturvvaraì pàlayità matî må pà[lyaì] niràyàsamapå ÿ ß ß | sarvvîtilîbhà ÿ ÿ ß paraì yatsadarùatàì yàti ÿ ß pi ràjãàì(jãàm) ||[23||*] vidhvastaiõ pa ÿ ß
18 ÿ rånna ca paràõ pàpàtmanàì sampadaõ sàdhónàmapi pórvvapuíyavihità dðùyanta åvîjva(jjva)làõ | tasmàddharmmaphalaprapaãcaracitaì dðøòvà vici[traì] ÿ ß [ta]ttattvaì puruøåía yåna guíinà ß ß ÿ vi[kkra][mya*]tå ||[24||*] matvaivaì svaùarèrakaãca kðtibhi[rvvi]dva[dbhi][ra*]-
19 [pya*]sthiraì lålàlîka ÿ ß ÿ ß sukhamapi pratyóhajàlàvðtam | ùrutvà-ùakra-purassarà[ùca] vibhavaiõ puíyàtmabhiõ såvitàõ kàryyaõ kèrtta[na*]-dàna-pàlana-vidhau dharmmasya yatnaõ [paraõ ||25||*] ß ß ß ÿ vikàsinî matima[tàì] bhàsanti bhàcî(và) ÿ ß ,
20 ß ß ß [yu ?]ta-dugdhasi[ktha ?]dhavalà ß ß [ti] vakøaõ[sthalå] | yàvadgandhavahî vi ß nti ca jagan-tàvat-prayatn-àdi-màêkèrttim-pàlayataõ priyà [nara*]patårnyàsàsthayà sa[jja]nàõ ||[26*||] bhðtyî mittramapa[tyaì] ÿ [abhó*]ttasyaiva bhópatåõ | durgga-gîla iti ß ÿ
21 ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ — ÿ ÿ [||27||*j ß ß ß ÿ ÿ ÿ ÿ [tî]nya-màrga-mà[traì] vijãåyà praviracità praùasti ß ß | ràjãå ß ÿ ÿ vacanà vi[jà]ta bhàvà sadvðttåtyatimahatàdaråía mànyà ||[28||*] jalaha[sti][su*][tå]nåyaì praùastiõ ùilpaùàli[nà] [|*]
22 utkèrííà sótradhàråía [sàdhunà] durggahastinà ||[29||*]