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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA Asiatic Society, Vol. XVI. p. 1 ff. It is now re-edited from an excellent ink-impression supplied by Dr. Fleet, who contributes the following remarks on the original :─ “ The present facsimile of the plates has been prepared, under my superintendence, from ink-impressions made by me in 1884, when I obtained the original plates on loan, for that purpose, from Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji. The seal has been done from a photograph of it which was made on the same occasion. “ The copper-plates are two in number, each about 8⅝″ long by 5″ broad at the ends and 4⅞″ in the middle. The edges of them are here and there slightly thicker than the inscribed surfaces ; but it would seem that this was accidental, and that the plates were intended to be smooth, without any fashioned rims. The plates are substantial ; and the letters, though fairly deep, do not show through on the reverse sides at all. The engraving is good. The interiors of many of the letters show marks of the working of the engraver’s tool. The ring is about 3/16″ thick, and 1½″ in diameter. It had been cut before the time when it came into my hands. The seal, which is soldered on to the ring in the usual fashion, is circular, about 1½″ in diameter. It has, in relief on the surface of it, only the motto Śrî-âśraya. The weight of the two plates is 2 lbs. ; and of the ring and seal, 5½ oz. : total, 2lbs. 5½ oz.″ The alphabet resembles that of other record of the early Chalukyas. The jihvâmûlîya occurs once (l. 12). Final forms are found of m (ll. 1, 2, 20), t (l. 13) and n (l. 17). The only mark of punctuation is a small vertical line after Svâmantasvâmî (l. 14). The date at the end of the inscription is expressed in words and numerical symbols.
The language is Sanskṛit, mostly prose ; two well known Anushṭubh verses occur in l. 1 f. and l. 19 f. Although the inscription is very well preserved, and though the engraving is neat and distinct, the text is full of serious blunders. As may be seen from the footnotes and from the brackets in the transcript, many letters and syllables are either omitted or corrupted. In line 15 a whole word seems to be missing, which cannot be supplied with certainty.[1]
The inscription opens with an invocation of the boar incarnation of Vishṇu (l. 1 f.). It then
states that in the family of the Chalikyas[2] (l. 5) was Pulakêśi-Vallabha (l. 6), “ who by the
strength of his own arm had subdued the collection of all hostile kings, who resembled Râma
and Yudhishṭhira, (and) who possessed true increased by (his) elder brother, the glorious
Vikramîditya-Saty[â]śraya-Pṛithivivallabha Mahârâjâdhirâja-Paramêśvara-Bhaṭṭâraka, the
fervent Mâhêśvara, who meditated at the feet of (his) mother and father and of the holy
Nâgavardhana, (and) who by unchecked prowess had overcome the Pallava family.”
His son was the heir-apparent (yuvarâja) Śryâśraya-Śilâditya[3] (l. 13), “ who illuminated
all quarters of the sky by the banner of (his) fame that was as pure as the great garland of the
rays of the spotless full-moon in autumn, who was as liberal as Râjarâja (i.e. Kuvêra), [who
resembled] the god of love in being endowed with beauty, grace and loveliness, (and) who was as
skilled in all arts (and) as brave as (Naravâhanadatta) the emperor of the Vidyâdharas.” While
residing at Navasârikâ, he granted to the Brâhmaṇa Bhôgikkasvâmin (l. 15) a village named
Âsaṭṭi-grâma (l. 16). The donee was an Adhvaryu (i.e. a student of the Yajurvêda), the
pupil (?) of Kikkasvâmin, the younger brother of Mâtrîśvara (?), and the son of [S]âmantasvâmin.
The latter was the son of Agâmisvâmin, who belonged to the Kâśyapa gôtra and resided at
Navasârikâ. The village granted was included in the district (vishaya) of Kaṇhavalâhâra, a
subdivision of the Bâhirikâ district (vishaya). According to the two last lines of the inscription,
“ this (edict) was written by the minister (s[â]ndhivigrah[i]ka), the glorious Dhana[ṁ]jaya,
[1] See p. 232 below, note 14.
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