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The Indian Analyst
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South Indian Inscriptions |
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA No. 7, Plate iii. On the back wall of Cave No. 7, left of the doorway. TEXT.
1 Bhayaṁta-Savasânaṁ aṁtevâ-
REMARKS. This epigraph is missing in AS. I give the reading of Bhagwanlal rather than a transcription of my own. The estampages appear to be even less legible than the photographs. The letters are not deeply cut, so that the back of the estampages shows almost nothing. The direct examination of the stone may have enabled Bhagwanlal to see more than I can discover on the facsimiles. I can only abandon to him the honour and responsibility of the reading. Our facsimile is besides probably too short. For in the first line, where the visible traces indeed seem to confirm his transcription, the final vâ which he has read is certainly wanting, and the following lines also, if compared with his readings, seem to be incomplete on the right. In the second line I am unable to make out pavayitâya, and even less Tâpasiº. The rest looks more probable. I must, however, except the last word. Besides the fact that no trace of data appears, it is not that participle, but niyâtita, which is ordinarily used in that way. In l. 3 the cha must be wrong ; to all appearance we have to do with a single gift.
TRANSLATION. “ This cave, a pious gift of Tâpasinî, a female ascetic, a disciple of the reverend Savasa, granted to the universal Saṅgha of ascetics.” It is hardly credible that the name of the donor should be omitted, as the epigraph takes the trouble to commemorate the name of her religious teacher. So she must have been called Tâpasinî, admitting the reading to be correct. We have already met (in N. 4) with Tâpasa as a man’s name. As to that of the teacher, always supposing the reading to be correct, I do not see, among several possibilities, any Sanskṛit transcription which can be safely admitted. The reading Sovasa is not impossible ; it reminds of Sovasaka which in K. 20 seems to be an ethnic name, probably = Sauvarsha. Bhâjâ (AS. No. 4) supplies another instance of the pluralis majestatis : therânaṁ bhaaṁta-Dhamagirinâṁ. No. 8, Plate viii. (N. 7.) On the back wall of the veranda in Cave No. 8, right of the doorway. TEXT. Dâsakasa Mugûdâsasa (1) saparivârasa leṇa (2) deyadhama (3). REMARKS. (1) AS. Mugudâº. The û is not quote distinct. The double stroke, however accounts best for the crack, and besides the û is sure in the following number.─ (2) G. leṇaṁ. Even the ṇ much more the ṁ, is extremely indistinct.─ (3) G. ºdhaṁma. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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