Page:A grammar of the Teloogoo language.djvu/22

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INTRODUCTION.

Nunniah Bhutt was cotemporary with the King Vishtnoo Vurdhana,[1] of the Shiva sect and Chalookia race, who reigned at Rajahmundry on the banks of the Godavery. Colonel Wilkes,[2] in his Historical Sketches of the South of India, makes the Chalookia race more ancient than the Cadumba kings of Bunawassi, whose dynasty is stated to have been subverted in the second century of the Christian æra. If this be admitted, the works of Nunniah Bhutt may boast of great antiquity.


    (Symbol missingTelugu characters)

    Affectionately protecting the inhabitants of his Empire—receiving, with satisfaction, the tribute of foreign Sovereigns, whose kingdoms had been subdued by him, and humbling the pride of those princes who haughtily withheld payment—illuminating the corners of the world with his commands—protecting the whole race of Brumins—shielding the timid who solicited shelter—compassionately bestowing the most excellent and extensive Agraharams on the first born men (Bramins)—enlightening vast wealth by celestial enjoyment—and thus following the precepts of Menu, lived Vishtnoo Vurdhana, the increaser of his race. He, the ornament of the Chalookia family, constantly enjoying the glory of his vast empire—residing, with excessive delight, and with the splendour of the great Indra, in his capital of Rajahmahendra, which is the chief gem of the Vegu Empire, the great ornament of the goddess of the Earth, (encompassed by the waters of all the oceans)—attended, in his superb palace, which is the sent of glory of the whole world, by Ministers, Priests, Generals, Chamberlains, Counsellors, Magistrates, neighbouring princes, and beautiful damsels—and surrounded by Grammarians, skilled in the boundless doctrines of articulate sounds, Historians, acquainted with the Bharata, Rámayanum, and all the Poorans, Great Poets, celebrated for clothing the most pleasing and gentle images in the sweetest verse, famous Philosophers, skilled in all the sublime sciences, and diving into the ocean of abstruse reasoning, and many other learned men—amusing himself with study—deeply interested in agreeable history, and experienced in the rules of justice—sitting, with delight, thus affectionately addressed the venerable and virtuous Nannapa, the Brahmin and affectionate adherent of his family, incessantly devoted to sacrifice and meditation, auther of a copious grammar, skilled in the Sumhetas, fully versed in various Poorans, such as the Bramhanda &c., a meritorious man, the follower of the aphorisms of Apastamba, born in the gotram of Mudgola, commended by virtuous men, pure in his actions, experienced in worldly affairs, in wisdom like Broohusputee, celebrated for composing poetry in both languages, famed for genius, a speaker of truth which is everlasting. The king then proceeds to request that he will translate the Mahabharut.

  1. This prince must not be confounded with another Vishtnoo Vurdhana, who reigned in the eleventh century of our era, but who was neither of the Chalookia race, nor of the Shiva sect; he was a Tilinga king of the Bellal dynasty, and was converted from the jain religion to the sect of Visbtnoo, by the famous Rama Anuj Achary, the head of the Shri Vaishnavas or Ayengars, one of the three great sects into which the Hindoos of the Peninsula are now divided.
  2. Page 12 of Vol. 1st.