गुप्त अभिलेख संग्रह (जे. एफ. फ्लीट - गुप्त सम्राटों एवं परवर्ती नरेशों के ऐतिहासिक पाषाण व ताम्रलेख)

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 30, PLATE XIX B. 133
ation, from the possession of the Râjâ of Nâgaudh, through the kindness of Major D.
W. K. Barr,
The plate, which is inscribed on one side only, measures about 7⁷/₁₆" by 5⅞". The
edges of it were fashioned slightly thicker than the inscribed surface, with corresponding
depressions inside them, so as to serve as rims to protect the writing; and the inscription
is in a state of perfect preservation almost throughout. The plate is fairly thick; but
the letters are rather deep, and shew through clearly on the back of it. The engraving
is good; but, as usual, the interiors of the letters shew marks of the working of the engra-
ver's tool throughout.—In the upper part of the plate, there is a hole for a ring to connect
it with the other that belonged to it. But the ring and its seal are not forthcoming.—The
weight of the plate is 13 oz.—The average size of the letters is between ⅛" and ¼".
The characters belong to the northern class of alphabets, and are of the same type
with those of the Kâritalâî grant of the Mahârâja Jayanâtha of the year 174, No. 26
above, page 117, and Plate xvi.—The language is Saṁskṛit; and, except for the bene-
dictive and imprecatory verses in lines 4 to 10, the inscription is in prose throughout.—
In respect of orthography, we have to notice (1) the use of the upadhmânîya, in
saḥ=pañchabhir, line 2; (2) the use of the dental nasal, instead of the anusvâra, before
ś, in viṁśati, line 11; (3) the doubling of g and t, in conjunction with a following r, e.g.
in viggrahika and puttrêna, line 12; (4) the use of b for v, in bâ, line 4, and saṁbatsara,
line 10; and (5) the use of v for b, in valâdhikṛita, line 13.
The first plate, containing the name of the Mahârâja and the place whence the
charter was issued, is lost; but the date, and other details at the end, shew that the in-
scription is one of the Mahârâja Śarvanâtha of Uchchakalpa. The date of the
writing of the charter is given, in words, as the year one hundred and ninety-seven
(A.D. 516-17), and the twentieth day, without any specification of the fortnight, of the
month Âśvayuja (September-October.) The details of the grant are lost, in the first
plate.
TEXT.¹
(The first plate of this grant is not forthcoming.)
Second Plate.
1 Yathâ-kâlaṁ=cha pratipâlanîyâ [।*] samuchita-râj-âbhâvya-kara-pratyâyâś=
chaḥ²
2 na grâhyâḥ [।*] Ya imân=dattin=lôpayêt=saḥ=pañchabhir³=mahâpâtakair=
upapâta-
3 kaiś=cha saṁyuktas=syâd=Uktañ=cha Mahâbhâratê bhagavatâ vêda-vyâsêna
Vyâsêna [।*]
4 Sva⁴-dattâm=para-dattâm=bâ(vâ) yatnâd=raksha Yudhishṭhira mahîm=
mahîmatâñ=chhrêshṭha⁵ dânâ-
5 ch=chhrêyô=nupâlana[ṁ*] [॥*] Prâyêna(ṇa) hi narêndrâṇâṁ vidyatê
n=[â*]-śubhâ gatiḥ pûya-
¹ From the original plate. ² Read cha.
³ Read dattiṁ lôpayêt=sa pañchabhir.
⁴ Metre, Ślôka (Anushṭubh); and in the following four verses.
⁵ Read mahîmatâṁ śrêshṭha.