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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA NANDSA YUPA INSCRIPTIONS Can we identify Mahāsēnāpati Bhaṭṭisōma of this fragmentary record with [Śrī?] sōma, the hero of the inscriptions A and B of the Nāndsā yūpa ? The question is difficult to answer with certainty, but the probability is that the two personages are identical. It is true that the title Mahāsēnāpati is not given to [Śrī ?]sōma in inscriptions A and B. The records however make it clear that he was a distinguished general, who had a number of victories to his credit, and there is nothing improbable in the Mālavas having formally conferred that title upon [Śrī ?]sōma in recognition of his great services to the republic. A Yaudhēya record, no doubt about two centuries later in date, shows that the titles Mahārāja and Mahāsēnāpati were conferred upon the highest dignitary of that republic, who was elected to the post.1 [Śrī ?]-sōma may have got this honour later than 226 A. D., when the Nāndsā yūpa records were inscribed. That the fragmentary inscription we are dealing with here was issued late in the life of Sēnāpati Bhaṭṭisōma is made clear by its referring in l. 6 to his sons and grand-sons as well established in life. In favour of the identity of Bhaṭṭisōma with [Śrī ?]sōma, it may be further pointed out (i) that the palaeography of the three records is of the same period (ii) that both [Śrī ?]sōma and Bhaṭṭisōma are described as the leader of the Sōgis and that (iii)Śrīsōma is hardly different form Bhaṭṭisōma, both Śrī and Bhaṭṭi being honorific prefixes. Inscriptions A and B refer to [Śrī ?]sōma’s benefactions in favour of gods and sages ; the fifth line of the present record, which refers to a forest āśrama of ascetics, probably mentions a similar donation of Bhaṭṭisōma. This may also lend additional weight to the view that Mahāsēnāpati Bhaṭṭisōma is identical with [Śrī ?]sōma.
TEXT[2] INSCRIPTION C (Sanskrit) _______________________________________________
[1] Fleet, C. I. I. Vol. III, p. 252. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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