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INSCRIPTION OF THE SANGAMASIMHA
TRANSLATION
Success ! Hail! From Bharukachchha—the Mahāsāmanta, the illustrious Mahārāja,
Sangamasimha, who meditates on the feet of his mother and father, having stated his
good health,1 informs all (his subordinates, such as) Rājasthānīyas,2 Uparikas,3 Kumārāmātyas,4
heads of vishayas, Ārakshikas,5 Drāngikas,6 Kulaputrakas,7 Chātas, bhatas and others, as well
as those who execute their orders (as follows):—
(Line4). “Be it known to you that for obtaining religious merit and fame for Our
mother and father and for Ourself, We, availing Ourself of the holiest Mahākārttikī8 tithi
today, have granted with a libation of water, the village Śōnavvā situated in the AntarNarmadā vishaya together with the udranga9 and the uparikara,10 as well as excise and
octroi duties, (which is ) not to be entered by Chātas and bhatas, (and is) to be enjoyed by a
succession of sons and sons’ sons, according to the maxim of uncultivated land—to the
(following) residents of Bharukachchha, (viz.,) the Brāhmana Anantadatta of the Chhandōgi
gōtra (who is) a student of the Chhandōga (i.e., Sāmavēda) (and) Prajāpatiśarman of the
Gālava gōtra, (who is) a student of the Chhandôga, and Śivadēva of the Laukākshī gōtra,
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1Prof. Sten Konow translates kuśalam=anuvarnya as ‘having greeted’. In the Rāshtrakūta and
other records, the word kuśalī occurs in the same context, which shows that here also king refers
to his own good health.
2sup Rājasthānīya, lit., one who occupies the position of a king, probably in the administration of
justice. Būhler calls attention to the definition of the term in Kshēmēndra’s Lōkaprakāśa, viz., prajāpālanārtham=udvahati rakshayati cha sa Rājasthānīyah, ‘he who carries out the object of protecting
subjects and shelters them is a Rājasthānīya’. In line 17 of the Mandasor stone inscription of Yaśōvarman (C.I.I.,Vol. III, p. 154) Abhayadatta is said to have protected some territory after the manner of a
Rājasthānīya. So the term seems to indicate also the governor of a province. Kalhana also mentions the
office rājasthāna or rājasthānādhikāra. Stien, and following him, Vogel hold that the Rājasthānīya was
an officer of justice. (See A.C.S. Part I, p. 122). Fleet was inclined to think that ‘Viceroy’ was too exalted a title to be a suitable equivalent, because the Rājasthānīya is, in some records, mentioned ‘rather
low down in the list of officials’. (C.I.I., Vol. III, p. 157). It is noteworthy that in the present record the
Rājasthānīya heads the list of officials.
3 Uparika is mentioned in some Gupta records as the head of a bhukti or Commissioner. The
title Mahārāja is sometimes added to the term. The Uparika Mahārājas recommended the appointment
of Vishayapatis (heads of districts) who were subordinate to them. (Ep. Ind., Vol. XV, p. 133).
According to the definition given by Brihaspati, Uparika appears to have been a Magistrate. Ibid. XXIV,
p.134.
4 Kumārāmātya, lit. the councillor of a prince, was a title borne by several grades of officials such
as ministers, provincial governors and heads of districts. (See, e.g., Ep. Ind., Vol. X, p. 71) 5 Ārakshika, lit. a protector, was probably a police-officer.
6 Drāngika, derived from dranga a town, is probably identical with the Nāgarika (the Mayor of a
town) mentioned in Kautilya’s Arthaśāstra, pp. 143 ff.
7 I.e. noblemen.
8 I.e. the full-moon day in Kārttika.
9 See above p. 21, n.1.
10 See above, p. 21, n. 2.
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