South Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MAIN BRANCH

Gautamīputra, who was intensely devoted to (the god) Svāmi-Mahābhairava, who was the daughter’s son of the illustrious Bhavanāga, the Mahārāja of the Bhāraśivas, whose royal family was created by Śiva, who was greatly pleased by (their) carrying the liṅga of Śiva like a load placed on (their) shoulder, and who were besprinkled on their head with the pure water of the (river) Bhāgīrathī that had been obtained by their valour, who¹ was the son of the illustrious Pravarasēna (I), the Mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, the Samrāṭ (Universal) Monarch), who performed the Agnishṭōma, Āptōryāma, Ukthya, Shōḍaśin, Atirātra, Vājapēya, Bṛihaspatisava, Sādyaskra and four Aśvamēdhas, and who was of the Vishṇuvṛiddha gōtra.

...(Line 17). The village named Kōthuraka situated in the āhāra of Supratishṭha, which (is) to the west of the river Umā, to the north of Chiñchāpallī, to the east of Bōnṭhikavāṭaka (and) to the south of Maṇḍukigrāma, has been donated (bu Us) to the Brahmachārin (named) Kāluṭṭaka, who has performed a gaṇa-yāga and who belongs to the Taittirīya śākhā.

...(Line 20). Wherefore, Our officials of noble birth, who are employed by the order of the Sarvādhyaksha (General Superintendent ) and who exercise their authority by (Our) command, and (Our) soldiers and policemen² should be directed by the (following) command which is already well-known (to them) :−

...“Be it known to you that in order to increase Our religious merit, life, power, victory and prosperity, to secure Our well-being in this world and the next and to obtain blessings for Ourself, We have given here in (Our) victorious place of religious worship, with the pouring out of water, (this village ) as a gift not previously made.

... And We grant the following exemptions which are incidental to a village bestowed on a Brāhmaṇa proficient in the four Vēdas, and are appropriate, as approved by former kings:− It is not to pay taxes; it is not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; it does not entitle (the State ) to customary cows and bulls^3,; it does not (also ) entitle it to (royalties on ) flowers and milking; it is exempt from (the obligation to provide) grass, hides as seats and charcoal (to touring royal officers)⁴; it is exempt from (royalties on ) the purchase of fermenting liquors and the digging of salt⁵; it is free from all kinds of forced labour; it is donated together with (the right to ) hidden treasures and deposits (and) together with major and minor taxes⁶; it is to be enjoyed as long as the sun and the moon (will endure) and it is to follow the succession of sons and son’s sons. None should cause an obstruction while (the donee or his successor) is enjoying it. (This grant) should be preserved and increased by all means. And whoever, disregarding Our order, will himself cause or make (others) cause even the slightest obstructtion, upon him, when complained against by the Brāhmaṇas, We will inflict punishment together with a fine”.

... (Line 32). In showing thus Our regard to religion, We, in order to avoid mention
____________________

¹ D.R. Bhandarkar suggested that sūnōḥ sūnōḥ in line 3 refers to Gautamīputra, who succeeded Pravarasēna I. The construction is no doubt faulty. It would be better to read Gautamīputra-putrasya as in No. 13, line 9. There is no doubt that Gautamīputra did not reign. See the absence of the title Vākāṭākanāṁ Mahārāja in his case. For the probable reason for the faulty construction, see Ind. Cul., Vol. XI, pp. 232 f.
² See above, p. 9, n. 1.
³ Fleet translated, ‘It does not carry with it (the right to) cows and bulls in succession of production’ and remarked that the interpretation here was not quite certain. Perhaps, the right to demand the first calf of a cow is referred to here.
⁴ See above, p. 9, n. 2.
⁵ See above, p. 9, n. 3.
⁶ See above, p. 9, n. 5.