North Indian Inscriptions

CHICACOLE PLATES OF DEVENDRAVARMAN.

north (udag-ayana), on the eighth (tithi) of the bright (fortnight),─ to the brothers Achchharampaśarman, Bhavaśarman, Śivaśarman, Vishnuśarman, Sômaśarman, and Kumâraśarman, who reside at Kaliṅgânagara, who are students of the Chhandôga (śâkhâ), who are members of the Krishnâtrêya gôtra, (and) who have thoroughly studied the Vêdas and Vêdâṅgas. Knowing this, dwell ye in peace, delivering (to the donees) the customary shares and enjoyments !”

......(L. 14.) The boundary-limits of this village are (the following) :― In the eastern direction lies the trench (which marks the boundary) of the district. In the southern direction, likewise a trench. In the western direction, a trench in which the water from the Poppaṅgika hill and the water from the Sâyadaka hill unites and runs, (and) which extends as far as the southern direction. In the northern direction, a kosamba (?) tree and a giṇigiṇi (?) tree ; then, the boundary of the village of Kuruḍumbi ; then, a tinduka tree ; again, a tinduka (and) a kadamba tree, together with a crooked jambû tree and a bamboo clump ; (and) then, for (a distance which equals) the shadow of a man,¹ the district trench,² which extends as far as the eastern direction.

......(L. 19.) And (the king) addresses (the following) request to future kings :― “ Having obtained possession of the earth by means of right, or inheritance, or conquest, (and) ruling (it), (you) should preserve this meritorious gift ; and, with reference to this (subject), there are (the following) verses composed by Vyâsa :—”

[Three of the customary verses.]

......(L. 24.) (This) edict was written at the command of his (the king’s) own mouth by Pallavachandra, the son of Mâtṛichandra (and) a descendant of the race of Apûrvanaṭa.

......(L. 25.) (It was written) in the presence of the Mahattara, the Śavara³ Nandiśarman.

......(L. 26.) (In) the year one hundred and eighty-three,─ (in figures), 100 80 3,─ of the prosperous and victorious reign, in the month of Śrâvaṇa, on the twentieth,─ (in figures), 20 0,─ (solar) day.

......(L. 27.) (This edict) was engraved by Sarvachandra, the son of Khaṇḍichandra-Bhôgika.⁴

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No. 22.─ THE SIDDAPURA EDICTS OF ASOKA.

BY G. BÜHLER, PH.D., LL.D., C.I.E.

......The subjoined edition of the three enlarged versions of Aśôka’s New Edicts, discovered by Mr. Lewis Rice, the indefatigable and successful explorer of the archæological treasures of Mysore, is based on inked estampages, received from Dr. Hultzsch.⁵ The earlier editions and notices of these documents, which have been used, and to which reference will be made in the sequel, are :― (1) Mr. Lewis Rice’s editio princeps, published in his Report of February 1892 ; (2) M. Senart’s edition, translation, and valuable full discussion of No. I. in the Journal Asiatique, 1892, pp. 472 ff. (Notes d’ Epigraphic Indienne, No. IV.) ; and (3) my own short note in the Vienna Oriental Journal, Vol. VII. pp. 29 ff., in which I announced the discovery,― made with the help of a photograph kindly sent by Mr. Rice,― that the last letters of the three
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......¹ This description appears to presuppose the position of the sun at an angle of 45° over the horizon.
......² The same trench formed the boundary in the east ; see line 14 f.
......³ The Śavaras or Śabaras (Sauras) are the savage aborigines of the Gañjâm and Vizagapatam districts. A Śabara or Śavaras or chief Udayana is referred to in the Udayȇndiram plates of Pallavamalla and in an inscription at Sirpur on the Mahânadî ; see Dr. Fleet’s Gupta inscriptions, p. 293.
......⁴ On the title bhôgika see Dr. Fleet’s Gupta inscriptions, p. 100, note 2.
......⁵ [The two accompanying Plates are prepared from a duplicate set of inked estampages.― E. H.]