South Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE FEUDATORIES OF THE MAIN BRANCH

the Bālāghāṭ plates we know that the commands of Narēndrasēna were honoured by the rulers of Kōsalā, Mēkalā and Mālava. This is usually taken to mean that the rulers of these countries acknowledged the suzerainty of the Vākāṭaka king. In the Āraṅg plates of Bhīmasēna II we have, however, no indication that any of his predecessors were the feuda- tories of the Vākāṭakas. Like these rulers of Kōsalā, Bharatabala also makes no clear reference to his overlord, but he may have covertly alluded to him in the verse in question.¹

...Among the officers to whom the royal order is addressed are mentioned the Grāmakūṭa, Droṇāgrakanāyaka, Dēvavārika and Gaṇḍaka. Except Grāmakūṭa, these names are not known to occur elsewhere. The Grāmakūṭa was, of course, the head of the village. The Drōṇāgraka- nāyaka was evidently the chief of the Drōṇāgraka which seems to be the same as Drōṇamukha mentioned in the Arthaśāstra. Kauṭilya lays down that there should be a Drōṇamukha in the midst of four hundred villages.² The Droṇāgrakanāyaka was probably the head of this principal village. Dr. Chhabra takes Dēvavārika in the sense of ‘a superintendent of temple and holy places’. Perhaps Dēvavārika is a mistake for Dauvārika, in which case it may mean the same as Prātīhāra. The Śukranītisāra mentions the Prtīhāra as the head of the town or village police.³ The Gaṇḍaka has been taken in the sense of ‘a warrior’, but may signify the same as bhaṭa or ‘a soldier’. These officers and government servantas are concerned with the collection of revenue and the maintenance of peace and order and have therefore to be informed of every gift or transfer of landed property.

... The localities mentioned in the present grant have already been identified by Dr. Chhabra. Mēkalā is the name of the country comprising Amarakaṇṭak and the surrounding region. The Narmadā, which takes its rise in the Amarakaṇṭak hill, is called Mēkala-kanyakā. Vardhamānaka is, of course, Bamhanī where the plates were found. Pañchagartā probably means a valley of five rivers. It is noteworthy that in the vicinity of Bamhanī there are five rivulets at a short distance from one another, which later on join the Śoṇa. There is also a village Pāchgaon, about three miles south of Sahḍōl, which probably represents the headquarters of the Pañchagartā vishaya.

... As stated before, this dynasty of Mēkala traced its descent from the Pāṇdavas of epic fame. In verse 11 which seems to have a double meaning, the family is called saumya, i.e., descended from Sōma or the Moon. The Pāṇḍavas of the Mahābhārata are known to have belonged to the lunar race.

... As pointed out by Dr. Chhabra, Verse 11 seems to describe not only the king (narēndra) Bharatabala, but also his suzerain Narēndra i.e., the Vākāṭaka king Narēndrasēna.²From
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¹Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, pp. 342 f. The date of this plate is G. 182 not 282 as read by the editor. Ibid., Vol. XXVI, p. 228.
² For a similar instance, see the Surat plates of Śryāśraya Śīlāditya, which describe the Chālukyā Emperor Vinayāditya, the Suzerain of Śryāśraya Śīlāditya.