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