We know that Narasiṃha pallava expedited till Vātāpi during the retaliation of the second Cāḷukya invasion made by Pulkēśi II. The Pallava army was in upper hand in the battles held at Maṇimaṅgalam, śūramāram and Pariyaḷam. The Pallava army entered Vātāpi the heart of the Cālukya Viṣaya which made unprecedented disaster to the dynasty and the same ended in the death of the great emperor Pulakēśi II. Since Hieun Tsang’s visited the country during 641 CE, this episode is attributed to 642-43 CE. After this expedition, Cāḷukya rule was in eclipsed stage for next thirteen years till the coronation of Vikramāditya I.
The episode is ascertained by the inscription of Pallava Narasiṃha I at Vātāpi. The inscription is almost fully damaged and partially visible. The inscription was published in the Indian Antiquary Volume IX by J.F.Fleet and the revised text was published again in South Indian Inscription Volume XI with number 1.
| Line 1: | वत्सरे आत्मनो राज्यवर्षे च त्र(योदशे) |
| Line 2: | ………………सिंहेन महामल्लेन विद्विषाम् वातापिरतिमा(नेन)……………… |
| Line 3: | भारद्वाज(मलंक)रिष्णुरतुलं गोत्रं गुणैरात्मनो………………………. |
| Line 4: | ……………(त)यः क्षितिभुजामग्रेसरः पल्ल………………….. |
| Line 5: | ……………शिंहविष्णुर(धि)पः स्तम्भ़ञ्जय(श्री)………….. |
| Line 6: | ………… (मण्ड)पैर्ब्बहुमते प्रख्यात(खण्डोपले)………. |
| Line 7: | …………………स्ति शकवर्षे ष(ष्ट्य)………….. |
| Line 8: | …………………शमे………………………………….. |
| Line 9: | ………………………… |
वत्सरे आत्मनो राज्यवर्षे च त्र(योदशे) ………………सिंहेन महामल्लेन विद्विषाम् वातापिरतिमा(नेन)……………… भारद्वाज(मलंक)रिष्णुरतुलं गोत्रं गुणैरात्मनो…………………………………….(त)यः क्षितिभुजामग्रेसरः पल्ल………………………………..शिंहविष्णुर(धि)पः स्तम्भ़ञ्जय(श्री)…………………….. (मण्ड)पैर्ब्बहुमते प्रख्यात(खण्डोपले)………………………….स्ति शकवर्षे ष(ष्ट्य)……………………………..शमे……………………………………………………………..
Meaning.
In the thirteenth year of reign,….. by (Nara)siṃha who had the title Mahāmalla, Vātāpi of the enemies, with great anger,…………………. Who adorns the Bhāradvāja gotra which is incomparable by his good qualities………….. The leader of the kings and of Pallava race…………. (Nara?) siṃha Viṣṇu, the lord made pillar of victory … with pavilions of good stones….. On the śaka year sixty……………
It is very clear that Narasiṃha Pallava occupied Vātāpi with great anger and erected a pillar of victory. The only thing that is knocking my mind is the śaka year mentioned in this inscription. Only Sixty is readable there. It could be obviously five hundred and sixty by which the minimum year can be traced as 638 CE. But the date assigned by the scholars to this inscription is 642-43 by which his starting of rule is assigned to 630 CE. The inscription has only readable part as sixty. Hence we cannot predict the third digit of the year which could be five or four. The last digit in words is erased and hence we have to believe the assumptions of the scholars which made from the visit of Hieun Tsang during which Pulakēśi II was alive.
It is very sad that we have lost the parts of this valuable inscription.
