SHRAVANABELAGOLA INSCRIPTION
( 700 A.D.)
1.
This is a short but important inscription because it is suffused with literary qualities
and figures of
speech. This is a seventh century inscription, found at Shravanabelagola a venerated
place for the Jainas. This is a respectful account of the ascension to heaven of
Sri Nandisena Muni after renouncing his life. A brief summary of the inscription
is provided here.
2.
English Transliteration:
surachApambOle vidyulltegaLa teRavOl manjuvOl tOri bEgaM parigum shrI
rUpa lIlA dhana vibhava mahArAshigaL nillav Arggam paramArttham mechche nAn I dharaNiyuL
iravAn endu sanyasanam geydurusatvan nandisEna pravara munivaran dEvalOkakke sandAn.
3.
ENGLISH
TRANSLATION: A great sage named Nandisena, thought about the transient nature of
life and decided to renounce his life. His thoughts before he ascends to heaven
are encapsulated in this inscription like this: "Things like wealth, beauty,
playfulness, money and granduer are not permanent by their very nature and they
do not stay for a long time with any one. They can be compared to the rain bow,
the lightening and the morning mist which are now here and gone the very next moment.
I have no liking for these things. I do not not want
to linger here."
4.
Kannada Version:
ಸುರಚಾಪಂ ಬೋಲೆ ವಿದ್ಯುಲ್ಲತೆಗಳ
ತೆರವೋಲ್ ಮಂಜುವೋಲ್
ತೋರಿ ಬೇಗಂ ಪರಿಗುಂ
ಶ್ರೀ ರೂಪ ಲೀಲಾ
ಧನ ವಿಭವ ಮಹಾರಾಶಿಗಳ್
ನಿಲ್ಲವಾರ್ಗ್ಗಂ
ಪರಮಾರ್ತ್ಥಂ ಮೆಚ್ಚೆ
ನಾನ್ ಈ ಧರಣಿಯುಳ್
ಇರವಾನ್ ಎನ್ದು ಸನ್ಯಸನಂ
ಗೆಯ್ದುರುಸತ್ವನ್
ನನ್ದಿಸೇನ ಪ್ರವರ
ಮುನಿವರನ್ ದೇವಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ
ಸನ್ದಾನ್