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IX. Translation of a Sanscrit Inscription, relative to the last Hindu King of Delhi, with Comments thereon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2009

James Tod
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Extract

The Inscription, of which I have the honour to present a copy and translation to the Society, is a memorial of an important period in the History of India, especially that part familiarly, though restrictively, denominated Hindust'hán. To define the limits of this somewhat vague application, is of no great moment; but I believe it is generally to be understood as denoting the space between the mountains of Himálaya and the Nermadá river, north and south: a line in the meridian of the source of this river at Ameracantac, passing through Prayág, and meeting the great northern chain, forms the eastern limit; and westward, towards the Indus, it comprehends all the tracts within the limits of cultivation. This is generally understood to be Hindust'hán proper.

Type
Papers Read Before the Society
Information
Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland , Volume 1 , January 1827 , pp. 133 - 154
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1827

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References

page 133 note * Hindust'hán proper, contradistinguished from the southern peninsula, and eastern India (Dacshin and Púrb) is the same with the Med'hya dés'a, or central region. See Menu, 2. 21. The Narmadá river is the limit of the Vind'hya range of mountains there mentioned. Vinas'ana is the place where the Saraswatí river terminates; losing itself in the great sandy desert.—H.T.C.

page 135 note * Asi (with both vowels short) signifies a sword. A'sa is a bow.—H.T.C.

page 136 note * Vulg. Dóre.

page 137 note * The orthography of names of persons and places, purporting to represent the pronunciation, is not uniform in manuscripts of the vernacular language. In the same copy of Chand's poems, entitled Prat'hirdj-Chóhdn-rása, the hero's name is generally written Prat'hira'j; but sometimes Prit'hira'j; at other times PrĬt'hira'j; making, in the last instance, a near approach to the Sanscrit equivalent PrĬt'hwíra'ja. His family appellation is variously written, Chóhán, Chauhán, Cháhuván, or Chahüán: the Sanscrit of which also varies, Cháhamána, Cháhumána, or Cháhuvána. The metropolis, of his empire, likewise, is diversely spelt: Dilli, Dilí, Dillí, D'hillí, D'hillí, or D'híllí. In short, consonants are interchanged, and vowels confounded: not always by carelessness of transcribers; for the exigence of the metre sometimes supports the variation. There is, consequently, much uncertainty in the proper orthography of names.–H.T.C.

page 138 note * De Guignes, , Vol. I. p. 168.Google Scholar

page 140 note * Generally written Ma'nicca Ra'i. Mán'icya, in Sanscrit, is a ruby.– H.T.C.

page 140 note † Aja, goat; and mér, hill.–J.T.

Aja is in Sanscrit a goat; and méru, the sacred and central mountain at, or towards, the north pole, called Suméru. Jaya, signifies victory; and ajaya, invincible.–H.T.C.

page 141 note * See Asiatic Researches, Vol. I. 379. 7–175 and 511. 9–188 and 445.

page 142 note * To this etymology it may be objected, that Sác'há, a branch, is written with an aspirated guttural consonant; and Sáca, in Sácambharí, without aspiration.—H.T.C.

page 142 note † “The fulfiller of desire.”

page 143 note * Sometimes written Ran-t'hamb-bháwer, which is nearer to the Sanscrit Ran'a-st'hamba-bhramara, the bee of the pillar of war.—H.T. C.

page 143 note † Most commonly a grand funeral pyre, in which the whole are consumed.

page 146 note * From the Sanscrit Syála.

page 147 note * As. Res. ix. 77.Google Scholar

page 149 note * A necessary sign and qualification of a true hero must be long arms, according to the Hindu ordinances.

page 150 note * Helga, canto vi.

page 150 note † Vala, or Bal, is strength, whence the common term in Chand for a powerful warrior. Bala or Vala, Sala or Hala, for the initial letters are permutable, is a hall, or abode; thus Valhalla, the heroes' abode.

page 153 note * Addressed to his brother, and future bards.

page 153 note † The patroness of bards.

page 153 note ‡ One of the many names of Durga'.

page 153 note § Na Reda.