inscriptions in the hassan district

134 Arsikere Taluq.
62
Date 1177 A. D.
Obeisance to Mahadeva. Praise of Sambhu The god Madeva, as bearing
in himself the three gods, who differ in form but not in real essence, may he
grant us his blessing.
Be it well with the Hoysala-vamsa, whose root was Yadu, in which was
born a pearl of Kshatnyas, an ornament of the rulers of the world. Subduing
Dhara, the chief city of the Malava kingdom, using the might of his arm to
increase the victories of the emperor, he set up in the north the banner of his
fame, proclaiming his conquest of the regious, so as to frighten the sun — the
king Ereyanga. To the purifier of both families, the fortunate one, and to
that lord of high character, were three sons, — Ballala, Vishnu, and Udayaditya.
In Dorasamudra killing the army of Jagadeva, their arms being like an ocean
of valour, they painted the Lakshmi of victory with the blood from the mouth
of bis elephant as if with saffron, captured the central ornament of his
necklace, and acquired unequalled renown for their braveiy. Cherama,
give up your courage; Pandya, don't be so eager; Andhra, hide in a hole for
an ambush; Gaula, quit your pride; Malava, go off and show not your body
in battle, Tigula, you disappeai; — thus does the sound of king Ballu's drum
proclaim. Those who wished to save their heads, instead of opposing him in
battle, came near crying out ele ele ele, and fell at that king's feet, — thus
does all the world praise Udayaditya as conspicuous for courage. When his
enemies stand in battle array before him, and Bitti-Deva draws forth his sword,
0 Mabadeva, it is as if Rudra of the fire of judgment opens his flaming eye,
or Makali. . , or Indra's elephant runs mad, — who then can stand against
him? To Chola a scarecrow, to Malava a cut-tlnoat, to Chera a pursuing Makali
to eat him up, to Varala a rutting elephant to trample on him, to Khacha a
dart in his loins, to Nepala a whipfor his back, — heie he comes, they said,—
such was the agitation king viia-Vishnu inspired among hostile kings. Further
verses praising Vishnuvarddhana.
(Omitting laudations) His wife was Lakshmu-Devi, and they had a son
Narasimha. His wife was Echala-Devi, and their son was Ballaja; his praises.
Iu the east Kanchi was shaken, in the west the ocean was covered up, the
whole of the great Chera country rose and fled, the Pandya country at the same
time went forth and, hidden in forests, trembled, — who could stand before the
king Ballala in a big battle? On the brave king Ballu mounting bis horse
for an expedition of victory, Khaninga (i.e. Kalinga) went to live in the
forest; Tuluva, ruining his honour, fled; Konkana suddenly made ready for
sacred wilds; Gurjjara trembled, Malava gained the thickets of the Vindhyas;
Cholika spent his time on the sea-shore. His wife (in various ways a terror to