South Indian Inscriptions

INSCRIPTIONS OF THE MAIN BRANCH

...Victory has been attained by the Bhagavat! From the footprints of the Lord of Rāmagiri :-

... (There was) the Mahārāja, the illustrious Ghaṭōkacha, the first king of the Guptas. His son (was) the Mahārāja, the illustrious Chandragupta (I). His son, graciously favoured by him, (was) the Mahārāja, the illustrious Samudragupta, ( who was) born of the Mahādēvī Kumāradēvī (and was) the daughter’s son of the Lichchhavi (chief). His son, who meditated on his feet, (was) the Mahārājādhirāja, the illustrious Chandragupta (II), born of the Mahādēvī Dattadēvī, who (was) a fervent devotee of the Bhagavat (Vishṇu), who (was) a matchless warrior on the earth ; who exterminated all kings ; (and) who donated many thousands of crores of cows and gold (coins) which he had obtained by lawful means.

...(Line 7). His daughter, the illustrious Mahādēvī Prabhāvatīgupta of the Dhāraṇa gōtra, born of the queen Kuberanāgā, who was herself born in a Nāga family ;− who is an ornament of both the (Gupta and Vākāṭaka) families ; who (was) the Chief Queen of the illustrious Rudrāsēna II, the Mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas; who is the mother of the illustrious Dāmodarasēna (alias⁵) Pravarasēna (II), the Mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas ; who meditates on the feet of the Bhagavat (Vishṇu) ; (and) who has sons and grandsons who will live for a full hundred years⁶−having announced (her) good health, commands the Mahattaras (elders) of the village led by the Brāhmaṇas (residing) in the Aśvatthanagara in the Mārga (subdivision) of Kōśika as follows-

... “ We have in this town donated the field enjoyed (so far) by Bhuktaka together with a farm-house situated in it (and) four huts cultivators, to the Brāhmaṇas⁷. . . . of the Parāśara gōtra and the Taittairīya śākhā, whether they have or do not have sons, by pouring out water and issuing a charter for the increase of Our religious merit and (Our welfare) in this world and the next.

(For translation of lines 16-26, see above, pp. 14-15.)

...(Line 26). We issue this order to the present rulers (who are) vanquished by Our resolve, attack or valour.

... And the (following) verse, sung by Vyāsa, should be regarded as authoritative on this point.

(Here occurs an imprecatory verse.)

...(Line 29). In the nineteenth year, while the illustrious Pravarasēna (II), the Māhārāja of the Vākāṭakas, is governing his kingdom, on the twelfth (lunar day) in the bright fortnight of the month Kārttika (this charter has been written). The Dūtaka is Devanadasvāmin. (This charter) has been written by Prabhusiṁha.
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¹ Read राज्यं प्रशासतः संवत्सरे
²Read एकोनविशातितमे.
³ Gupte gives this name as येवन्दस्वामी in both his articles, but the reading is clearly as above.
⁴ Read प्रमुसिंहेन.
⁵ See above, p. 35.
⁶ See above, p. 34.
⁷ The names of the Brāhmaṇas have been omitted inadvertently.