North Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE SILAHARAS OF NORTH KONKAN

which was in effect the ratification of the vyavasthā previously laid down by the illustrious queen Padmala-dēvī. She is mentioned also in the Bhōighar plates (No. 61) and was evidently the mother of the three brothers Chhittarāja. Nāgārjuna and Mummuni. The vyavasthā made in the presence of the following royal officials, viz. the Pradhāna (minister) Nārāyaṇaiya, the Sāndhivigrahika Viṭṭhapaiya Nāyaka, the Purōhita (family priest) Vāsudēv-ōpādhyāya and Nārāyaṇa Paṇḍita, the Jyōtishika (astrologer) Divākara, the Treasury Officer, Minister Jōupaiya, the Sāndhivigrahika Ṭhākureya, the Junior Treasury Officer Vāvalaiya and others as well as the principal Brāhmaṇas and the sixteen Mahattaras (representatives) of Āgaradīpaka, The vyavasthā was as follows :—

..Henceforth no member of the royal family—neither the queens nor the princes—nor the Sāmantas, Nāyakas and Ṭhākuras[1]—were to lay any claim to the village (Dīpakāgara) and its three neighbouring hamlets. The Brāhmaṇas should pay the annual revenue according to the prevailing custom. The fines for the offences should be levied as settled in the assembly (Smārikā)[2] by its sixteen members. None was required to pay any cess (dēṇaka)[3] or to arrange for the accommodation (paḍaṇaka) of royal servants touring in the territory so far as the residents of Dīpakāgara were concerned. The residents of the adjoining three hamlets, however, were not exempted from these dues. They were to pay them according to the custom of the country. The Brāhmaṇas who observed this vyavasthā are to be protected so long as the Sun and the Moon endure.

..The charter was written by the Pradhāna Jōupaiya, the Chief Treasury Officer. He is mentioned as the scribe in several other records of Chhittarāja and Mummuṇirāja.[4]

.. As for the localities mentioned in the present plate, Dīpakāgara is undoubtedly Divē Āgar, where the plate was found. Of the three villages in its neighbourhood, only two can now be identified. Kālaija is probably Kārlē about 3 km. almost due south of Divē Āgar. Vōritali may be Vaḍavali at about the same distance north by east of Divē Āgar. Katila cannot now be traced in the neighbourhood of Divē Agar.

TEXT[5]

[1] These seem to be officers of different grades. Sāmanta may have been the head of a province, Nāyaka that of a division, and Ṭhākura that of a vishaya (district) or a smaller territorial division.
[2] Smārikā seems to mean a parishad which draws attention to the rules in Smṛitis.
[3] Dēṇaka (cf. Marathi dēṇē) means a cess or a tax (see gṛihadēṇaka in No. 26 line 5). Paḍaṇaka seems to mean a shelter. Cf. paḍvīśa which means a halting place (M.W.) It corresponds to vasati-daṁḍa ( a cess for the accommodation of royal servants touring in the locality). See Ep. Ind., Vol. XXV, p. 225, n. 2).
[4] See Nos. 5-11, 13 and 14 above.
[5] From an ink impression supplied by Dr. G. S. Gai, Chief Epigraphist.
[6] Expressed by a symbol.
[7] Read संवत्सर–.
[8] Read संवत्सरा–
[9] Read संवत्.
[10] This and similar punctuation marks in the following lines are redundant.