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

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 55, PLATE XXXIV 235
TRANSLATION.
Vyâghradêva, who meditates on the feet of the Mahârâja of the Vâkâtakas, the
illustrious Prithivîshêna, has made (this) for the sake of the religious merit of (his)
··ents.
No. 55; PLATE XXXIV.
CHAMMAK COPPER-PLATE INSCRIPTION OF THE
MAHARAJA PRAVARASENA II.
THIS inscription was discovered about 1868, and,—the original plates having been
obtained by Major H. Szczepanski, and forwarded by him to Dr. John Wilson, of Bom-
bay,—was first brought to notice in 1879, by Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji's reading of the
text, published in Notes on the Bauddha Rock-Temples of Ajanta,¹ p. 54 ff.—And in 1883,
Dr. G. Bühler, C.I.E., published his own reading of the text, and a translation of it, in the
Archæol. Surv. West. Ind. Vol. IV. p. 116 ff., and also, accompanied by a lithograph of the
plates, but not of the seal, in the Ind. Ant. Vol. XII. p. 239 ff.
The inscription is on some copper-plates that were found in ploughing a field at
Chammak,² the ancient Charmâṅka of the inscription, a village about four miles
south-west of Ilichpur,³ the chief town of the Ilichpur District in the Commissioner-
ship of East Berar, in the Haidarâbâd Assigned Districts. The original plates, which I
obtained for examination from Dr. Burgess, are now, I understand, again in the posses-
sion of Major Szczepanski.
The plates, of which the first and last are inscribed on one side only, are seven in
number, each measuring from 7⅜" to 7½" by from 3½" to 3⅝". They are quite smooth, the
edges of them having been neither fashioned thicker, nor raised into rims. A few of the
letters on the first and last plates have been damaged by rust; but the rest of the in-
scription is in a state of excellent preservation. The plates are fairly thick and substan-
tial; and the letters, which are not very deep, do not shew through on the reverse sides at
all. The engraving is good; but, as usual, the interiors of the letters shew here and
there marks of the working of the engraver's tool.—Towards the top of each plate, there
is a hole for a ring to connect them. The ring is circular, about ¼" thick and 3⅝" in
diameter. It was not soldered into the socket of a seal; but the ends of it were flattened
off, as if to overlap and fasten with a pin or bolt; there is, however, no hole in them to
shew that they were ever actually secured in this way. The seal⁴ is a flat disc of copper,
rising slightly towards the centre, about ⅛" thick and 2⅞" in diameter. To the centre of
the back of it, there is soldered a small ring, by which it slides on the larger ring men-
tioned above. Across the surface of the seal, there is the legend, in four lines, of
¹ No. 9 of the separate pamphlets of the Archæological Survey of Western India.
² The ‘Chamuck’ of the Indian Atlas, Sheet No. 54. Lat. 21° 12' N.; Long. 77° 31' E.—In Notes
on the Bauddha Rock-Temples of Ajanta, p. 54, the plates are said to have been obtained from
Sâgar in the Central Provinces. And in Ind. Ant. Vol. XII. p. 234, they are called the Ilichpur grant.
But in Archæol. Surv. Ind. Vol. IV. p. 116, it is stated explicitly that they were found in a ploughed
field at Chammak.
³ The ‘Ellichpur’ of maps, &c.
⁴ See Plate xxxiiiC.
2 G 2.

236 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
which the text and translation are given below.—The weight of the seven plates is about
6 lbs. 14 oz., and of the two rings and the seal, about 14½ oz.; total 7 lbs. 12½ oz.—The
average size of the letters is about 5/16". The characters belong to the southern class
of alphabets, and are of the ‘box-headed’ variety of the Central India alphabet, on which I
have commented at page 18 f. above. But, whether intentionally or accidentally, the heads
of the letters were scooped out hollow through nearly the whole of this inscription; and
the true box-shaped tops are discernible in only a few places; e.g. in lines 58 and 59.
The characters include forms of the numerical symbols for 8 and 10, in line 60, and for
8,000, in line 19.—The language is Saṁskṛit. The legend on the seal is in verse; but
the inscription itself, except for the benedictive and imprecatory verses in lines 36 to 39,
is in prose throughout.—In respect of orthography, we have to notice (1) the use of the
upadhmânîya, in râjñaḥ=pravara, line c; pâṇêḥ=prasâda, line 13; śambhôḥ=prasâda,
line 16; and rakshitavyaḥ=pari, line 32; but not in kalîyaḥ putra, line 30; (2) the
occasional doubling of k and d, in conjunction with a following r, e.g. in kkrama, line b;
kkriyâbhis, line 31; and ddrôha, line 4; (3) the doubling of th and dh, in conjunction with
a following y, in bhâgîratthy-amala, line 6, and sarvvâddhyaksha, line 21; and (4) the
doubling of v after the anusvâra, in saṁvvatsarê, line 60.
The inscription is one of the Mahârâja Pravarasêna II., of the Vâkâṭaka
tribe or dynasty; and the charter recorded in it, is issued from the town of Pravarapura.
It is dated, both in words and in numerical symbols, in the eighteenth year (of his
government), on the thirteenth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month Jyêshṭha
(May-June). It is a non-sectarian inscription; the object of it being simply to record the
grant, by Pravarasêna II., to a thousand Brâhmans, of the village of Charmâṅka, i.e.
the modern Chammak itself, in the Bhôjakaṭa kingdom.
TEXT.¹
The Seal.
a Vâkâṭaka³-lalâmasya
b kkrama-prâpta-nṛipa-śriyaḥ
c râjñaḥ=Pravarasênasya
d śâsanaṁ ripu-śâsanam [||]
First Plate.
1 Dṛishṭaṁ [||] Svasti Pravarapurâd=agnishṭôm-âptôryyâm-ôkthya-
shôḍaśy-âtirâtra-⁴
2 vâjapêya - bṛihaspatisava - sâdyaskra - chaturaśvamêdha - yâjinaḥ
[L36

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 55, PLATE XXXIV. 237
Second Plate; First Side.
6 nâm=parâkram-âdhigata-Bhâgîratthy-â(a)mala-jala-mûrddhn(rddh)-âbhi-
shiktânân=daś-â-
7 śvamêdh-âvabhṛitha-snânânâm=Bhâraśivânâṁ mahârâja-śrî-Bhava-
nâga-dau-
8 hitrasya Gautamî¹putrasya putrasya Vâkâṭakânâṁ mahâ-
râja-śrî-Rudraśê-
9 nasya sûnôr=atyatna(nta)mâhêśvarasya saty-ârjjava-kâruṇya-
śauryya-vikrama-na-
10 ya - vinaya - mâhâtmy - âdhima(ka)tva - hâ²(pâ)tr - âgata - bhakti(kti)tvâ-
dharmmavî(vi)jayî(yi)tva-
Second Plate; Second Side.
11 manônairmmâ(rmma)ly-âdi-guṇais=samupêtasya varsha-śatam=abhi-
varddhamâna-kôśa-
12 daṇḍasâdhana-sannâ(ntâ)na-putra-pautriṇaḥ Yudhishṭhira-vṛitnê(ttê)r=
Vâkâṭakâ-
13 nâṁ mahârâja-śrî-Pṛithivishêṇasya sûnôr=bbhagavataś=Chakra
pâṇêḥ=prasâ-
14 d-ôpârjji³ta-śrî-samudayasya Vâkâṭakânâṁ mahârâja-śrî-Rudra-
sêna-
15 [sya] sûnôr=mmahârâjâdhirâja-śrî-Dêvagupta-sutâyâṁ Prabhâva-*
Third Plate; First Side.
16 tiguptâyâm=utpannasya Śambhôḥ-prasâda-dhṛiti-kârttayugasya
17 Vâkâṭakânâm = parama-mâhêśvara - mahârâja - śrî - Pravarasênasya
vachanâ[t]*
18 Bhôjakaṭa-râjyê Madhunadi(dî)-taṭê Charmmâṅka⁴-nâma-
gr[â]maḥ râjamânika-bhu(bhû)mî-*
19 sahasrair=ashṭâbhiḥ⁵ 8000 Śatr[u]ghnarâja-putra-Koṇḍarâja-*
vijñâptyâ nânâ-gô-
20 tra-charaṇêbhyô brâhmaṇêbhyaḥ sahasrâya dattaḥ [||*]
Third Plate; Second Side.
21 Yatô=smat-santakâ[ḥ] sarvvâddhyaksh-âdhiyôga-niyuktâ âjñâ-*
sañch[â]ri-kulaputr-âdhikṛitâ*

¹ The form of superscript î that we have here, is somewhat different from that which occurs
throughout the rest of this inscription.—In line 7 of the next inscription, page 245 below, this syllable
has the short vowel i, as is optionally allowable.
² The engraver first formed hi, and then partially cancelled the i. Probably the man who wrote
the copy from which he engraved, had hesitated between hit-âgata and pâtr-âgata.—The form of
superscript i used here, was not of general use till somewhat later times. But, in the present inscrip-
tion, it occurs again distinctly twice in ti, in line 16, in ni, line 21, and twice in vi, line 23; and in
other places; and, in many other instances throughout the inscription, there is a tendency to form it
in the same way.
³ The engraver first formed jji, and then corrected it into rjji.
⁴ The engraver first formed skâ, and then partially cancelled the s.
⁵ We have to supply parimitâḥ, or some similar word, after this instrumental case.

238 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
22 bhaṭâch(ś)=chhâtrâś=cha viśruta-pûrvvay=âjñay=âjñâpayitavyâ Viditam=
astu vô yath=ê-
23 h=âsmâkam=manô¹ dharmm-âyur-bva(bba)la-vijay-aiśvaryya-vivṛiddhayê
ih-âmutra-hit-â-
24 rttham=âtm-ânugrahâya vaijaikê² dharmmasthânê apûrvva-dat[t*]yâ
udaka-purvva-
25 m=atisṛishṭaḥ [|] ath=âsy=ôchitaṁ pûrvva-râj-ânumatâṁ châtur-
vvaidya-grâma-ma-
26 ryyâdân(ṁ)=vitarâmas=tad=yathâ a-karadâyî³ a-bhaṭa-chhchha-
(chchhâ)tra-prâvêśya[h]
Fourth Plate; First Side.
27 a-pâraṁpara-gô-balivardda[h*] a-pushpa-kshîra-satdô(ndô)ha[h*] a-
ch[a*]râ-
28 sana-charmm-âṅgâra[h*] a-lavaṇa-klinna-kkrêṇi-khanaka[h*] sarvva-
vê(vi)shṭi-pari-
29 hâra-parîhṛitaḥ⁴ sa-nidhis=s-ôpanidhiḥ sa-kli(kḷi)pt-ôpakli(kḷi)ptaḥ
30 â-chandr-âditya-kâlîyaḥ putra-pautr-[â*]nugamakaḥ [|] bhu[ṁ]jatâṁ
na kê-
31 nachi[d*]=vyâghâtam(ḥ) karttavyas=sarvva-kkriyâbhis=sa[ṁ*]rakshi-
tavyaḥ=par[i*]varddhayi-
32 tav[y*]aś=cha [|] yaś=ch=âyaṁ⁵ śâsanam=a-gaṇayamânô(naḥ)
svalp[â]m=api [pa*]ribâdhâṁ-⁶
Fourth Plate; Second Side.
33 n(ṅ)=kuryyât=kârayitâ vâ tasya brâhmaṇair=vvêditasya sa-
va(da)ṇḍa-nigrahaṁ kuryyâ-
34 ma || Asmi[ṁ*]ś=cha dharmm-âvara-karaṇê ati(tî)t-ânêka-râja-
datna(tta)-sañchitna(nta)na-
35 paripâlanaṁ kṛita-puṇy-ânukîrttana-parihâr-ârttham na
kîrttayâmaḥ [||]
36 Vyâsa-gîtau ch=âtra ślôkau pra⁷mâni(ṇî)karttavyau [|] Sva⁸-
datnâ(ttâ)m=para-datnâ(ttâ)ṁ
37 vvâ(vâ) yô harêta vasundharâṁ gavâṁ śata-sahasrasya
hantu-
Fifth Plate; First Side.
38 r=harati dushkṛitaṁ [||*] Shashṭiṁ varsha-sahasrâṇi(ṇi) svarggê
môdati bhû-

¹ Read yath=aisha âtmanô.
² Read vaijayikê.
³ The engraver first formed yai, and then corrected it into yî.
⁴ Read parihṛitaḥ.
⁵ Read yaś=ch=êdaṁ. The cha of ścha closed up again, almost entirely, after the engraving.
⁶ After this word, kuryyâ was engraved and then cancelled.—The anusvâra is not required;
since, in the next line, we have n, by mistake for ṅ, connecting paribâdhâṁ in saṁdhi with kuryyât.
⁷ The engraver first formed â=pra, and then cancelled the â.
⁸ Metre, Ślôka (Anushṭubh); and in the following verse.

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 55, PLATE XXXIV 239
39 mi-daḥ âchchhêttâ ch=ânumantâ cha¹ tâny=êva narakê vasêd=
iti [||] Śśâ(śâ)sana-
40 sthitiś=ch=êyaṁ brâhmaṇair=îśvatais=ch=ânupâlanîya tad=yathâ
râjñâṁ sa-
41 ptâṅgê râjyê a-ddrôha-pravṛintâ(ttâ)nâṁ [a]-brahmaghna-chaura²-
pâradârika-râjâ-
42 pathyakâri-prabhṛiti(tî)nâṁ [a*]-saṅgr[a*]ma-kurvvatâṁ anya-
grâmêshv=an-a- ||
Fifth Plate; Second Side.
43 par[a*]ddhânâṁ³ â-chandr-âditya-kâlîyaḥ [|] atô=nyathâ kurvvatâm=
anumôdatâṁ vâ⁴
44 râjñaḥ bhu(bhû)mi-chchhêdaṁ kurvvataḥ a-stêyam=iti [||]
Prâ(pra)tigrâhiṇaś=ch=âtra
45 vâra-niyuktâḥ [|] Śâtyâyanaḥ Gaṇâryyaḥ Vâtsya-Dêvâryyaḥ
Bhâradvâja-
46 Kumâraśarmmâryya[ḥ] Pârâśaryya-Guhaśarmmâ Kâśyapa-
Dêv[a*]ryyaḥ Mahêśvarâryya⁶[ḥ*]
47 Mâtṛaryya[ḥ*] Kauṇḍinya-Rudrâryya[ḥ*] Sômâryya[ḥ*]
Hariśarmmâryya[ḥ*]
Sixth Plate; First Side.
48 Bhâradvâja-Kumâraśa[r]mm[â]ryya[ḥ*] Kauṇḍinya(nya)-Mâtṛi(tri)-
śarmmâ Varaśarmm[a*]
49 Gôṇḍaśarmmâ Nâgaśarmmâ Bhâradvâ[ja*]-Śantiśarmmâ Rudra-
śarmmâ Vâtsyaḥ
50 Bhôjakad[ê*]vâryya[ḥ*] Maghaśarmmâ Dêvaśarmmâ Bhâradvâja-
Môkshaśarman[a*]
51 [Nâ]gaśarmmâ Rêvatiśarmmâ Dharmmâryya[ḥ*] Bhâradvâja-
Śarmmâryya[ḥ*]
52 Nandanâryya[ḥ*] Mûlaśarmmâ | Îśvaraśarmmâ | Varaśarmmâ
Sixth Plate; Second Side.
53 Chânsya⁷-Skandâryya[ḥ]* Bhâradvâja-Bappâryya[ḥ*] Dharm-
mâryya[ḥ*] Âtrêya-Skandâryya[ḥ*]
54 Gautama-Sômaśarmmâryya[ḥ*] Bha[r*]triśarmmâ Rudraśa[rmmâ*]-
ryya[ḥ*] Maghâryya[ḥ*] Mâtṛi-
55 śarmmâryya[ḥ*] Îśvaraśarmmâryya[ḥ*] Gautama-sagôtra-Mâtṛi-
śarmmâ-
56 ryya[ḥ*] Kauṇḍiṇya(nya)-Dêvaśarmmâryya[ḥ*] Varaśarmmâryya[ḥ*]
Rôhâryya[ḥ*]
¹ The engraver first formed chcha or chchha, and then cancelled the lower ch, or the chha.
² The engraver first formed râ, and then cancelled the â.
³ Read an-apar[â]ddhânâṁ*, omitting the mark of punctuation.
⁴ The engraver first formed vvd, and then cancelled the lower v.
⁵ The engraver first formed gvd, and then corrected it into grâ.
⁶ This ryya stands at the end of the line, below the râ of mahêśvarâ; but this is evidently the place to which it properly belongs.
⁷ Read vâtsya.

240 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
Seventh Plate
57 Gautama-sagôtra-Svâmidê[vâ*]ryya[ḥ*] Rêvatîśarmmâryya[ḥ*]
58 Jyêshṭhaśarmmâryya[ḥ*] Śâṇḍilya-Kumâraśarmmâryya[ḥ*] Svâti-
śarmmâ-
59 ryya[ḥ*] Ś[â*]tyâyana(na)-Kâṇḍ[â*]ryya-prabhṛitayaḥ [||] Sênâpatau
60 Chitravarmmaṇi saṁvvatsarê=shṭâdaśa[mê*] 10 8 Jyêshṭha-
mâsa-śukla-
61 paksha-trayôdaśyâ[ṁ*] śâsanaṁ likhitam=itiḥ¹ [||]
TRANSLATION.
The Seal.
A charter of king Pravarasêna, the
ornament of the Vâkâṭakas, who has
attained royal dignity by inheritance, (is)
a charter for (the observance of even his)
enemies!
The Plates.
Sight has been attained!² Hail! From the town of Pravarapura;—(Line 17.)—
At the command of the most devout worshipper of (the god) Mahêśvara, the Mahârâja of
the Vâkâṭakas, the illustrious Pravarasêna (II.),³ who was begotten on Prabhâvati-
guptâ, the daughter of the Mahârâjâdhirâja, the glorious Dêvagupta; who, through
possessing the favour of (the god) Śambhu, is (as virtuous as) one belonging to the Kṛita
age;—
(Line 13.)—(And) who is the son of the Mahârâja of the Vâkâṭakas, the illustrious
Rudrasêna (II.), who acquired an abundance of good fortune through the favour of the
divine (god) Chakrapâṇi;—
(L. 9.)—Who⁴ was the son of the Mahârâja of the Vâkâṭakas, the illustrious
Pṛithivîshêṇa, who was an excessively devout worshipper of (the god) Mahêśvara; who
was endowed with an excess of truthfulness, straightforwardness, tenderness, heroism,
prowess, political wisdom, modesty, and high-mindedness, and with devotion to worthy
people and guests, and with the condition of being victorious through religion, and with
¹ Read iti.—Two forms of the double mark of punctuation are used in this inscription; the
upright form, after anyagrâmêshu=ana in line 42; and the horizontal form, after kuryyâma in line
33-34. The latter rather resembles the visarga. And thus the engraver came to form a visarga,
instead of a double mark of punctuation, after the word iti.
² As regards the Text and my Translation here, Dr. Bühler, while admitting that the opening
aksharas looked like drishṭaṁ or driptaṁ, interpreted them as ôṁ ôṁ.—Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji read
them as drishṭaṁ.—The mark over the dṛi is not an anusvâra, but only a rust-mark. And the read-
ing is as indisputably drishṭam here, as it is dṛishṭam at the commencement of the next inscription.—
The same word occurs, if possible still more clearly, in the margin of the first plate of the Goa
grant of Satyâśraya-Dhruvarâja-Indravarman (Jour. Bo. Br. R. As. Soc. Vol. X. p. 348 ff.), where Mr.
K. T. Telang (id. p. 360, note) suggested that it might mean 'sanctioned.' But it is of course the
remnant of some such expression as drishṭaṁ bhagavatâ, "sight (i.e. clearness of perception in
religious matters; a thorough insight into the nature of the universe and everything connected
with it) has been attained by the Divine One;" see my remarks on siddham, page 25 above, note 4.
³ The context is "the village named Charmâṅka" &c., in line 18 ff. below.
⁴ i.e. Rudrasêna II.

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. III

Plate XXXIV — Chammak Copper-Plate Inscription of the Mahārāja Pravarasena II

TEXT

First Plate (Plate i)

ॐ स्वस्ति [॥] प्रवरपुरात्सकलगजाधिराजविक्रमावधारणकारुण्या-
मृतसत्त्वगौरवसत्यशौचविनयमाहात्म्यवैमल्यधैर्य्यशौर्य्यौदार्य्यवि-
वेककान्तिरनहङ्कृतकल्याणसम्पदुपचितसकलधर्म्मार्थकामसं-
पदामधिकरणस्य राज्ञो ऽर्द्धोरिव सततसत्त्राय प्र-
वर्त्तमानमद्धर्म्मक्रियाकारयितुश्शतमुखानुकूलिणो

Second Plate, First Side (Plate iia)

ऽप्रतिहतशक्तिसिद्धेश्चतुरुदधिसलिलास्वादितय-
शसो विष्णोः प्रसादोपचितश्रीसमुदयस्य वाकाटका-
नाम्परममाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य
सूनोरत्यन्तस्वामिमहाभैरवभक्तस्य वाकाटकानाम्पर-
ममाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीपृथिवीषेणस्य सूनो-
र्भगवतश्चक्रपाणेः प्रसादोपार्ज्जितश्रीसमुदय-

Second Plate, Second Side (Plate iib)

स्य वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोर्म-
हाराजाधिराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम्प्रभावतीगु-
प्तायामुत्पन्नस्य शम्भोः प्रसादधृतकर्त्तयुगस्य वा-
काटकानाम्परममाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीप्र-
वरसेनस्य वचनात् [॥] भोजकटके दक्षिण-

Third Plate, First Side (Plate iiia)

पार्श्वे चम्मुकसन्निकृष्टे कर्पूरपद्रके राजमानिकै-
र्भूमिपद्भिः सहस्रं दत्तं विदुराश्रमवास्तव्य-
नानारूपगोत्रचरणेभ्यश्छत्राचार्यादि-
सहस्रब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदेयम् [॥] एष चास्माभि-
र्यावश्चन्द्रादित्यौ तावत्पुत्रपौत्रानुगामिक-

Third Plate, Second Side (Plate iiib)

स्सर्वनिबन्धसहितो ऽपूर्व्वदत्त्या सर्व्ववेष्टिपरिहार-
परिहृतश्चाटभटप्रावेश्यः अपारम्परगोबली-
वर्द्दः अपुष्पक्षीरसन्दोहः अलवणकिण्ण-
खनकः अपशुमेध्यः अनिधिः सोपनिधिः
सकॢप्तोपक्लृप्तः अकरदायी सर्व्वसङ्करा-

Fourth Plate, First Side (Plate iva)

न्वितः सर्व्वपरिहारपरिहृतः परिपालनीयो ऽनु-
मन्तव्यश्च [॥] यो वास्मच्छासनमगणयमानः स्वल्पाम-
पि परिबाधाङ्कुर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा तस्य ब्राह्मणे-
र्व्वेदितस्य सदण्डनिग्रहङ्कुर्य्याम [॥] अस्मिंश्च
धर्म्मादरणे ऽतीतानागतानामध्यक्षसङ्कीर्त्तनङ्क-
र्त्तव्यम् [॥] संवत्सरे अष्टादशे १८ ज्येष्ठमासशुक्ल-
पक्षत्रयोदश्याम् १३ सेनापतौ चित्रवर्म्मणि लिखितम् [॥]

TRANSLATION & HISTORICAL NOTES

• Dynasty: Vākāṭaka Dynasty (Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch).
• King: Paramamāheśvara Mahārāja Pravarasena II.
• Genealogy:
  1. Mahārāja Rudrasena I (son of Gautamīputra, grandson of Pravarasena I).
  2. Mahārāja Pṛthivīṣeṇa I (son of Rudrasena I).
  3. Mahārāja Rudrasena II (son of Pṛthivīṣeṇa I).
  4. Mahārāja Pravarasena II (born of Queen Prabhāvatīguptā, daughter of the Mahārājādhirāja Devagupta / Chandragupta II of the Imperial Gupta dynasty).
• Geography: Issued from the city of Pravarapura; registers the grant of the village Charmāṅka / Chammuka (modern Chammak in the Achalpur/Ellichpur taluk, Amravati district, Maharashtra) in the Bhojakaṭa territory (Bhojakaṭa-rājya).
• Beneficiaries: One thousand Brāhmaṇas of various gotras and caraṇas residing at Viḍurāśrama.
• Date: Regnal year 18, on the 13th lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Jyeṣṭha (Line 32–33).
• Engraver/Official: Written under the supervision of the Senāpati Citravarman.

वरशर्म्म-महेन्द्रशर्म्म-

• Line 57: देवशर्म्म-विशाखशर्म्म-कुलोटशर्म्म-गोण्डशर्म्म-वमशर्म्म-
• Line 58: गोण्डशर्म्म-देवशर्म्म-गुहशर्म्म-दामशर्म्मा [।*] सम्वत्सरे त्रयोविंशतितमे
• Line 59: २३ ज्येष्ठमास-शुक्लपक्ष-त्रयोदश्याम् [।*] शासनं लिखितं
• Line 60: सेनापतौ चित्रवर्म्मणि मनोरथपुत्रेण चक्रदासेन [॥*]

Let's check the English translation:
Lines 34-37: "Wherefore our obedient and high-born officers, who are appointed to the superintendence of everything, and our soldiers and umbrella-bearers, should be guided by this our order..."
Lines 38-43: conditions of grant, exemptions (a-kara-dāyī, etc.)
Lines 44-47: verses of Vyāsa
Lines 48-52: conditions of the grant regarding the conduct of the Brāhmaṇas
Lines 53-58: list of 49 Brāhmaṇa donees
Lines 58-60: Date (Year 23, 13th lunar day of the bright fortnight of Jyeṣṭha) and writer

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 55, PLATE XXXIV. 241
purity of mind, and with other meritorious qualities; who belonged to an uninterrupted
succession of sons and sons' sons, whose treasure and means of government had been
accumulating for a hundred years; who behaved like Yudhishṭhira;—
(L. 4.)—Who¹ was the son of the Mahârâja of the Vâkâṭakas, the illustrious
Rudrasêna (I.), who² was an excessively devout devotee of (the god) Svâmi-Maha-
bhairava; who was the daughter's son of the illustrious Bhavanâga, the Mahârâja of the
Bhâraśivas, whose royal line owed its origin to the great satisfaction of (the god) Śiva,
(caused) by (their) carrying a liṅga of Śiva placed as a load upon (their) shoulders, (and)
who were besprinkled on the forehead with the pure water of (the river) Bhâgîrathî that
had been obtained by (their) valour, (and) who performed ablutions after the celebration
of ten aśvamêdha-sacrifices;—who³ was the son of Gautamîputra;—
(L. 1.)—(And) who⁴ was the son of the son of the Mahârâja of the sovereign
Vâkâṭakas, the illustrious Pravarasêna (I.), who celebrated the agniśṭôma,⁵ aptôr-
yâma, ukthya, shôḍaśin, âtirâtra,⁶ vâjapêya, brihaspatisava,⁷ and sâdyaskra⁸ sacrifices
and four aśvamêdha-sacrifices, (and) was of the Vishṇuvṛiddha gôtra:—
(L. 18.)—The village named Charmâṅka, on the bank of the river Madhunadî,
in the Bhôjakaṭa kingdom, (measured) by eight thousand bhûmîs,⁹ (or in figures) 8000,
according to the royal measure, is, at the request of Koṇḍarâja, the son of Śatrughna-
râja, given to one thousand Brâhmaṇs of various gôtras and charaṇas.
(L. 21.)—Wherefore Our¹⁰ obedient and high-born¹¹ officers, employed in the office of
general superintendents,¹² (and Our) regular soldiers and umbrella-bearers, should be
(thus) directed with a command preceded by (the words) 'O illustrious one':— "Be it
known to you, that, in order to increase Our religion and life and strength and victory and
dominion, (and) for the sake of (Our) welfare in this world and in the next, (and)
¹ i.e. Prithivîshêṇa.
² i.e. Rudrasêna I.
³ See page 237 above, note 1.
⁴ i.e. Rudrasêna I.
⁵ The agniśṭôma, lit. 'praise of the god Agni, or fire,' was a protracted sacrifice, extending over
five days in spring, and forming one of the parts of the Jyôtishṭôma, which was one of the principal
sacrifices connected with the sacred Sôma plant and juice. Other parts of the Jyôtishṭôma sacrifice
were the aptôryâma, ukthya, shôḍaśin, âtirâtra, and vâjapêya ceremonies, which are mentioned in
the text here; the seventh, and last, part being the atyagniśṭôma, which is not here mentioned.
⁶ Monier Williams, in his Sanskrit Dictionary, gives only the form atirâtra, with the short vowel
a in the first syllable; so also Max Müller in his Sanskrit Literature, p. 177, note. But the Text
here distinctly gives the long vowel â. And, though in line 1 of the next inscription, page 245 below,
the vowel is rather imperfectly formed, yet a comparison with bhâgîratthy-âmala, in line 5 of the
same, shews that there also the vowel â is intended.
⁷ The brihaspatisava was another sacrifice, lasting a day, apparently connected with Bṛihaspati,
the priest and preceptor of the gods.
⁸ The sâdyaskra was another sacrifice, of which I have not been able to find any explanation in
the books of reference available.
⁹ bhûmî, lit. 'land, the earth,' is evidently used here as some technical land-measure, the value
of which is not known.
¹⁰ asmat-santaka, lit. 'belonging to Us;' see Childers' Pâli Dictionary, s. v. santaka.
¹¹ kulaputra.
¹² Sarvâdhyaksha.

242 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
generally) for Our benefit, this (village) is granted, in (Our) victorious office of justice, as
a grant not previously made, with libations of water.
(L. 25.)—"Now We grant the fixed usage, such as befits this (village), (and) such as
has been approved of by former kings, of a village which belongs to a community of Châ-
turvêdins; namely, it is not to pay taxes; it is not to be entered by the regular troops or
by the umbrella-bearers; it does not carry with it (the right to) cows and bulls in succes-
sion of production,¹ or to the abundance of flowers and milk, or to the pasturage, hides,
and charcoal, or to the mines for the purchase of salt in a moist state; it is entirely free
from (all obligation of) forced labour; it carries with it the hidden treasures and deposits,
and the klṛipta and upaklṛipta;² it is (to be enjoyed) for the same time with the moon
and the sun; (and) it is to follow (the succession of) sons and sons' sons. No hindrance
should be caused by any one to those who enjoy it. It should be protected and increased
by all (possible) means. And whosoever, disregarding this charter, shall give, or cause
to be given, even slight vexation, We will inflict on him punishment, together with a fine,
when he is denounced by the Brâhmaṇs."
(L. 34.)—And in this document, which has at least (the merit of) religion,³—in order
to avoid boasting of (other) meritorious actions performed (by Us),—We do not recite
(Our) care and protection of grants made by various kings who are dead and gone.
(L. 36.)—And two verses, sung by Vyâsa, are to be cited as an authority on this
point:—Whosoever confiscates land that has been given, whether by himself, or by
another, he incurs the guilt of the slayer of a hundred thousand cows! The giver of land
enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant),
and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in
hell!
(L. 39.)—And this condition of the charter should be maintained by the Brâhmaṇs and
by (future) lords; namely (the enjoyment of this grant is to belong to the Brâhmaṇs)
for the same time with the moon and the sun, provided that they commit no treason
against the kingdom, consisting of seven constituent parts,⁴ of (successive) kings; that
they are not slayers of Brâhmaṇs, and are not thieves, adulterers, poisoners of kings,
&c.; that they do not wage war; (and) that they do no wrong to other villages. But, if
they act otherwise, or assent (to such acts), the king will commit no theft in taking the
land away.
(L. 44.)—And the recipients, appointed for the occasion in this matter, (are):—
Gaṇârya, of the Śâtyâyana (gôtra). Dêvârya, of the Vâtsya (gôtra). Kumâraśarmârya,
of the Bhâradvâja (gôtra). Guhaśarman, of the Pârâśarya (gôtra). Dêvârya, of the

¹ The interpretation here is not quite certain. But this and the next three expressions seem to
reserve certain rights for the villagers against the grantees.
² These are technical fiscal expressions, the meaning of which is not known.
³ This is in accordance with Dr. Bühler's rendering (Archæol. Surv. Ind. Vol. IV. p. 123, note 8).
—As regards karaṇa in the sense of 'a document,' it is borne out by Karaṇika, which is of constant
occurrence in evidently the meaning of 'one who has to do with documents, a writer, a scribe;' e.g.
in the passage from the 'Dewal' inscription of Vikrama-Saṁvat 1049, referred to at page 201 above.
—Dr. Bhagwanlal Indraji proposed to correct the text into dharmm-âdara, probably meaning "in
this act of respect for religion."
⁴ The saptâṅga, or 'aggregate of the seven constituent elements (of a kingdom),' consists of the
king, and his ministers, ally, territory, fortress, army, and treasury.

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 56, PLATE XXXV. 243
Kaśyapa (gôtra); Mahēśvarârya, (and) Mātṛârya. Rudrârya, of the Kauṇḍinya (gôtra);
(and) Sômârya, (and) Hariśarmârya. Kumāraśarmârya, of the Bhāradvāja (gôtra).
Mātṛiśarman, of the Kauṇḍinya (gôtra); (and) Varaśarman, Gōṇḍaśarman, (and) Nāga-
śarman. Śāntiśarman, of the Bhāradvāja (gôtra); (and) Rudraśarman. Bhōjakadēvârya,
of the Vātsya (gôtra); (and) Maghaśarman, (and) Dēvaśarman. Mōkshaśarman, of the
Bhāradvāja (gôtra); (and) Nāgaśarman, Rēvatiśarman, (and) Dharmârya. Śarmârya, of
the Bhāradvāja (gôtra); (and) Nandanârya, Mūlaśarman, Īśvaraśarman, (and) Varaśar-
man. Skandârya, of the Vātsya (gôtra). Bappârya, of the Bhāradvāja (gôtra); (and)
Dharmârya. Skandârya, of the Âtrêya (gôtra). Sômaśarmârya, of the Gautama (gôtra);
(and) Bhartṛiśarman, Rudraśarmârya, Maghârya, Mātṛiśarmârya, (and) Īśvaraśarmârya.
Mātṛiśarmârya, of the Gautama gôtra. Dēvaśarmârya, of the Kauṇḍinya (gôtra);
(and) Varaśarmârya, (and) Rōhârya. Svāmidēvârya, of the Gautama gôtra; (and)
Rēvatiśarmârya, (and) Jyēshṭhaśarmârya. Kumāraśarmârya, of the Śāṇḍilya (gôtra);
(and) Svātiśarmârya. (And) Kaṇḍârya, of the Śāṭyāyana (gôtra); and so forth.
(L. 59.)—(This) charter has been written, while Chitravarman is the Sênâpati, in
the eighteenth year, (or in figures) 10 (and) 8, on the thirteenth lunar day of the bright
fortnight of the month Jyēshṭha.

No. 56; PLATE XXXV.
SIWANI COPPER-PLATE INSCRIPTION OF THE
MAHARAJA PRAVARASENA II.

THIS inscription was first brought to notice in 1836, in the Jour. Beng. As. Soc.
Vol. V. p. 726 ff., where, the original plates having been forwarded by Mr. D. M.
McLeod, Mr. James Prinsep published his reading of the text, and a translation of it,
accompanied by a lithograph (id. Plate xxxiii. Nos. 1 and 2).
The inscription is on some copper-plates which were obtained by me for examin-
ation from the possession of a Zamîndâr or land-holder named Hazari Gond Malguzar,
living at the village of Piṇḍarāî, in the Siwanî Tahsîl or Sub-Division of the Siwanî-
Chhapārā District¹ in the Central Provinces. I have no information as to where the
plates were originally found; and, as they have always been known as the Siwanî grant,
it seems desirable to continue that name; though, of course, in the absence of any local
identification of the places mentioned in the inscription, this name indicates only in a
general way the part of the country to which the grant belongs.
The plates, of which the first and last are inscribed on one side only, are five in
number, each measuring about 8⅛" by 4⅜" at the ends and somewhat less in the middle.
They are quite smooth, the edges of them having been neither fashioned thicker, nor
raised into rims. The inscription is in a state of perfect preservation throughout. The
plates are rather thin, and the letters shew through on the reverse sides, so clearly that
many of them can be read there; in a very exceptional manner, this is noticeable even
on the intermediate plates; though, of course, not to such an extent as to make the
letters of one side of a plate legible on the other in the lithograph. The engraving is very

¹ The chief town is Siwanî; the ‘Seoni and Seonee’ of maps, &c. Indian Atlas, Sheet No. 79.
Lat. 22° 5′ N.; Long. 79° 35′ E.
2 H 2.

244 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
good; but, as usual, the interiors of the letters shew in a few places marks of the working of
the engraver's tool.—Towards the proper right end of each plate, there is a hole for a
ring to connect them. The ring is circular, about ½" thick and 3⅞" in diameter. The
ends of it were flattened off, so as to overlap, and were fastened with a pin or bolt; they
were still secured in this manner, when the grant came into my hands. The seal¹ is a
thin flat disc of copper, about 3⅛" in diameter. A bolt in the centre of it secures
it to a thin band of copper, about ⅝" broad and 3½" in circumference, by which it
slides on the ring mentioned above. Across the surface of the seal, there is the legend,
in four lines, of which the text and translation are given below.—The weight of the
five plates is about 3 lbs. 4¼ oz., and of the ring and seal, 5½ oz. ; total 3 lbs. 9¾ oz.—The
average size of the letters is about ¼"; except on the seal and on the last plate, where
they are rather larger. The characters belong to the southern class of alphabets, and
give a very perfect and beautiful illustration of the 'box-headed' variety of the Central
India alphabet, on which I have commented at page 18 f. above. They include two forms
of b; one, the customary form of this alphabet, occurs in bṛihaspati, line 1, and in other
places in this and the preceding inscription; the other, a square and more antique form,
occurs only in beṇṇā, line 17; in the lower b in āyur-bbala, line 26; and in bāpta, line
36.—The language is Sanskrit. The legend on the seal is in verse; but the inscription
itself except for the benedictive and imprecatory verses in lines 39 to 42, is in prose
throughout.—In respect of orthography, we have to notice (1) the use of the upa-
dhmānīya, once, in rājñaḥ-pravara, line c; (2) the use of the dental n, instead of the
anusvāra, before ś and s, in vaṁśa, lines 5 and 17, and ansa, line 4; (3) the doubling of
th and dh, in conjunction with a following y, in uktthya, line 1, and bhāgīratthy-amala,
line 5, and in sarvvāddhyaksha, line 24; (4) the doubling of dh, in conjunction with a
following v, in addhvaryavē, line 19-20; and (5) the doubling of v after the anusvāra
(which, however, was omitted in the actual engraving), in saṁvvatsarē, line 18.
The inscription is another record of the Mahārāja Pravarasēna II., of the
Vâkâṭaka tribe or dynasty. The place whence the charter was issued, is not recorded.
It is dated, in words, in the eighteenth year of his government, on the twelfth lunar day of the
bright fortnight of the month Phâlguna (February-March). It is a non-sectarian inscrip-
tion; the object of it being simply to record the grant to a Brâhman, by Pravarasēna II.,
of the village of Brahmapûraka, in the Beṇṇâkârpara bhâga.²
Of the villages mentioned in defining the position and boundaries of the village that
was granted, Kollapûraka is possibly the modern 'Kolapoor' of the map,³ twenty-one
miles south of Ilichpur.
¹ See Plate xxxiiiD.
² bhâga, lit. 'a part, share, division, allotment,' is a technical territorial term, of rare occur-
rence, the exact purport of which is not apparent.
³ Indian Atlas, Sheet No. 54. Lat. 20° 56' N. ; Long. 77° 34' E.—The same name, in a slightly
different form, occurs in the Kollāpura of the southern inscriptions (e.g. line 48 of the Terḍāl inscrip-
tion ; Ind. Ant. Vol. XIV. p. 18; see also id. p. 23, note 22), as the ancient name of the modern
Kôlâpur, the chief town of the Kôlâpur State in the Bombay Presidency.

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 56, PLATE XXXV. 245
TEXT.¹
The Seal.
a Vâkâṭaka²-lalâmasya
b krama-prâpta-nṛipa-śriyaḥ
c râjñaḥ=Pravarasênasya
d śâsana[m*] ripu-śâsanam [II*]
First Plate.
1 Dṛishṭam Siddham³ || Agnishṭôm-âptôryyâm-ôktthya-shôḍaśy-
âtirâtra⁴-vâjayê(pê)ya-bṛihaspatisava-
2 sâdyaskra-va(cha)turasvamêdha-yâjinaḥ Vishṇuvṛiddha-sagôtrasya
sashraṭ Vâkâṭakânâ-
3 m⁵=mahârâja-śrî-Pravarasênasya sûnôḥ sûnôḥ atyanta-
Svâmi-Mahâ-
4 bhairava-bhaktasya ansa-bhâra-sanniv[e*]śita-Śiva-liṅg-ôdvahana-Śiva-
suparitushta-
5 samutpâdita-râjavaṅśânâm parâkram-âdhigata-Bhâgîratthy-â(a)mala-
jala-mûrddh-âbhi-
Second Plate; First Side.
6 shiktânâm daś-âśvamêdh-âvabhṛitha-snânânam=Bhâraśivânâm=mahâ-
râja-śrî-Bhavanâ-
7 ga-dauhitrasya |⁶ Gautamî⁷putrasya putrasya | Vâkâṭakânâm-
mahârâja-śrî-
8 Rudrasênasya sûnôḥ atyantamâhêśvarasya | saty-ârjjava-
kâruṇya-śau-
9 ryya - vikrama - naya - vinaya - mâhâtmy⁸-[â*]dhima(ka)tva-pâtr-[śâ*]gata-
bhaktitva-dharmmavijayi-
10 tva-manônairmmaly-âdi-guṇa-samuditasya | varsha-śatam=abhivarddha-
mâna-kôśa-
11 daṇḍasâdhana-santâna-putra-pautriṇaḥ Yudhishṭhira-vṛittêr=Vvâkâṭa-
kânâm-mahârâja-
Second Plate; Second Side.
12 śrî-Pṛithivishêṇasya sûnô[ḥ*] bhagavataś=Chakrapâṇêḥ prasâd-
ôpârjjita-
13 śrî-samudayasya | Vâkâṭakânâm-mahârâja-śri(śrî)-Rudrasênasya
sûnôḥ
¹ From the original plates. ² Metre, Ślôka (Anushṭubh)
³ In the original, this word, siddham, stands between the lines, below dṛishṭam.—As regards
dṛishṭam, see page 240 above, note 2.
⁴ See page 241 above, note 6.
⁵ Read samrâḍ-vâkâṭakânâm.
⁶ This and the following marks of punctuation, down to line 23 are unnecessary.
⁷ See page 237 above, note 1.
⁸ In this compound, the t is formed very anomalously ; but the character cannot stand for any-
thing else.

246 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
14 pûrvva-râj-ânuvritta-mârgg-ânusâriṇaḥ sunaya-bala-parâkkram-ô-
15 chchhinna-sarvva-dvishaḥ mahârâjadhirâja-śrî-Dêvagupta-sutâyâm-
Prabhâvati-
16 guptâyâm=utpannasya Śambhô[ḥ*] prasâda-dhṛiti-kârttayugasyaḥ¹
Vâkâṭaka-
Third Plate; First Side.
17 vanś-âlaṅkâra-bhûtasya । mahârâja-śrî-Pravarasênasya vachanât
Beṇṇâ-
18 kârppara-bhâgê pravarddhamâna-râjya-sa[ṁ*]vvatsarê । ashṭâ-
daśamê । Phâlgu-
19 ṇa(na)-śukla-dvâdaśyâm Maudgalya-sagôtrâya । Taittiri(rî)yây=
Âddhvaryya-
20 vê Dêvaśarmm-âchâryyây=ôdaka-pûrvvam sa-koraṭaḥ sa-
pañchâśatkaḥ
21 Brahmapûrakan=nâma grâmô=tisṛishṭaḥ Vaṭapûrakasy=
ôttarêṇa । Kiṇihikhê-
22 ṭakasy-âparêṇa । Pavarajjavâṭakasya dakshiṇêta(na) ।
Kollapûrakasya
Third Plate; Second Side.
23 purvvêṇa । sva-sîmâ-par[i*]chchh[ê*]dêna Karañjavi(ñchi)raka-
taṭê ।(॥) Atr=âsmat-santakâḥ
24 sarvvâddhyaksha-n[i*]yôga-n[i*]yuktâḥ âjñâsañchâri-kulaputr-âdhi-
kṛitâḥ bhaṭâḥ-
25 ś²-chhâtrâś=cha viśruta-pûrvvayâ âjñayâ âjñâpayitavyâḥ [। ]
Vidita-
26 m=astu ta(va)ḥ yath=aishô=smâbhiḥ Âtmanô dharmm-âyur-
bbala-vijay-aiśvaryya-vi³vṛi[d]dhayê
27 ih-[â*]mutra-hit-ârtthaṁ=âtv(tm)-ânugrahâya ।⁴ vaijayikê dharmma-
sthânê⁵ । a-bhaṭa-
Fourth Plate; First Side.
28 chchh[â*]tra-prâvêśyaḥ a-pârampara-gô-balivarddaḥ a-pushpa-
kshîra-sandôha[ḥ*] a-châ-
29 râsana-charmm-âṅgâraḥ a-la⁶vaṇa-klinva⁷-krêṇi-khanakaḥ ।⁸ sarvva-
vishṭi-parihâra-
30 parihṛitaḥ sa-nidhiḥ s-ôpanidhiḥ sa-kli(kḷi)pt-ôpakli(kḷi)ptaḥ
â-chandr-âditya-
¹ Read kârttayugasya.
² Read bhaṭâś.
³ First vṛi was engraved here, and then, it was corrected into vi, by adding the i and partially erasing the ṛi.
⁴ This mark of punctuation is unnecessary.
⁵ After this word, we require atisṛishṭaḥ, or some similar word, as in line 24 f., of the preceding inscription, page 238 above.
⁶ First li was engraved, and then it was corrected into la by partial erasure of the i.
⁷ Read kḷinna.
⁸ This mark of punctuation is unnecessary

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 56, PLATE XXXV. 247
31 kâli(lî)yaḥ putra-pautr-ânugâmî [|] bhujyamânô na kênachid-
vyâghâtayi-
32 tavyaḥ sarvva-kriyâbhiḥ saṁrakshitavyaḥ parivarddhayitavyâ(vya)ś=
cha [|] yaś=ch=âsma-
33 ch-chhâsanam=a-gaṇayamânaḥ svalpâm=api paribâdhâ(ṅ)=k[u]ryyât=
kârayitâ¹ vâ |²
Fourth Plate; Second Side.
34 tasya brâhmaṇair=âvêditasya [|] sadaṇḍa-nigrahaṁ kuryyâma
kârayêma v=êti [||]
35 Sênâpatau Bâppadêvê likhitaṁ âchâryyêṇa [||] Asmi[ṁ]ś=cha
dharmm-âdhikâra-
36 ṇê |³ ati(tî)t-ânêka-râja-dattâs⁴-saṁchintana-paripâlana[ṁ*] kṛita-
pu-
37 ṇy-ânukîrttayâmaḥ⁵ [|*] êshyantatkâla-prabhavishṇûnaṁ⁶ gauravâd=
bhavishyân=vi-
38 jñâpayâmaḥ [||] Vyâsa-gîtau ch=âtra ślôkau pramâṇi(ṇî)-
karttavyau [||(l)]
Fifth Plate.
39 Shashṭi⁷-varsha-sahasrâṇi svarggê môdati bhûmi-daḥ achchhêttâ
ch=ânumattâ(ntâ)
40 cha tâny=êva narakê vasêta(t) [||] Sva-dattâṁ=paradattâv(m)=
vâ yô harê-
41 ta vasundharâma(m) gavâṁ śata-sahasrasya hantur=harati
dushkṛitam=iti [||]
TRANSLATION.
The Seal.
A charter of king Pravarasêna, the
ornament of the Vâkâṭakas, who has
attained royal dignity by inheritance, (is) a
charter for (the observance of even his)
enemies!
The Plates.
Sight has been attained! Perfection has been attained!—(Line 17.)—At the command
of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Pravarasêna (II.), who follows the path of imitating
the behaviour of previous kings; who has extirpated all enemies by (his) excellent policy
and strength and prowess; who was begotten on Prabhâvatiguptâ, the daughter of the
Mahârâjâdhirâja, the glorious Dêvagupta; who, through possessing the favour of (the

¹ Read kârayitâ, as in line 33 of No. 55 above, page 238; or kârayêta.
² This mark of punctuation is unnecessary; also that in the next line.
³ This mark of punctuation is unnecessary.
⁴ Read datta.
⁵ Read kṛita-puṇy-ânukîrttana-parihâr-ârtthaṁ na kîrttayâmaḥ, as in line 35 of the preceding inscription, page 238 above.
⁶ Read êshyatkâla-prabhavishṇûnâm.
⁷ Metre, Ślôka (Anushṭubh); and in the following verse.

, 'a pollard, the trunk of a lopped tree; a log, stump, short stick.'—In Marâṭhî we have,
kôraṭ, 'spun silk, while still raw or unboiled;' kôraṇṭâ, kôraṇṭî, Barleria or Amaranth; and kôraḍâ,
'dry, empty, yielding no returns or profit.'

Notice in line 31: Kiṇihikhêṭaka has a dot under the n? Let's check image: Kiṇihikhêṭaka or Kinihikhêṭaka?
In line 31: Kinihikhêṭaka - no dot under n.
Wait, let's look closely: "Kinihikhêṭaka".
In line 27: —in the -> —ın tne in print, it's slightly damaged, standard English "in the".

Let's double-check all diacritics:

• Śambhu
• Kṛita
• Vâkâṭakas
• Mahârâja
• Rudrasêna (II.)
• Chakrapâṇi
• Pṛithivîshêṇa
• Mahêśvara
• Yudhishṭhira
• Rudrasêna (I.)
• Svâmi-Mahâbhairava

CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM.
Vol. III — Plate xxxv

Siwānī Plates of Mahārāja Pravarasēna II

Plate IIa

[१] दृष्टम् [॥] प्रवरपुरात् [।] अग्निष्टोमाप्तोर्य्यामोक्थ्यषोडश्यतिरात्र-
[२] वाजपेयबृहस्पतिसवसाद्यस्क्राचतुरश्वमेधयाजिनः
[३] विष्णुकृद्धसगोत्रस्य सम्राजः वाकाटकानां महाराजश्रीप्रवर-
[४] सेनस्य सूनोः सूनोः अत्यन्तस्वामिमहाभैरवभक्तस्य
[५] अंसभारसन्निवेशितशिवलिङ्गोद्वहनशिवसुपरितुष्टसमुत्पादित-

Plate IIb

[६] राजवंशानां पराक्रमाक्रान्तभागीरथ्यमलजलमूर्द्धाभिषिक्तानां दशाश्वमेधा-
[७] वभृथस्नातानां भारशिवानां महाराजश्रीभवनागदौहित्रस्य
[८] गौतमीपुत्रस्य पुत्रस्य वाकाटकानां महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य
[L11

(first line of Plate IIIb):
Look at the words:
Wait, let's look at the standard text of Pravarasena II grants:
Let's check the genealogy in Pravarasena II's grants:
Usually:
Plate I:
agnisṭomāptoryyāmokthya... pravarasenasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ... gautamīputrasya...
Plate IIa:
bhavanāgadauhitrasya... rudrasenasya... prabhavatiguptāyām utpannasya...
Plate IIb:
paramamāheśvara-mahārāja-śrī-pravarasenasya vacanāt...
Then comes the order and the village description!
Wait! The grant of the village:
In which plate is the village granted?
Usually on Plate IIb or IIIa!
Then Plate IIIb:
What is on Plate IIIb?
Privileges of the agrahāra!
Let's recall the standard Vakataka privileges (acāṭa-bhaṭa-prāveśyaḥ, etc.):
"apāraṃparagobalīvarddaḥ"
"apuṣpakṣīrasaṃdohaḥ"
"acārāsanacarmmāṅgāraḥ"
"alavaṇakḷiptakrenikhānakaḥ"
"apashumedhyaḥ"
"sarvaviṣṭiparihāra

THE GUPTA INSCRIPTIONS; No. 57, PLATE XXXVI A 249
(thus) directed with a command preceded by (the words) 'O illustrious one:'—"Be it
known to you, that, in order to increase Our own religion and life and strength and vic-
tory and dominion, (and) for the sake of (Our) welfare in this world and in the next,
(and generally) for Our benefit, this (village) [is granted*] in (Our) victorious office of
justice.
(L. 27.)—"It is not to be entered by the regular troops or by the umbrella-bearers;
it does not carry with it (the right to) cows and bulls in succession (of production), or to
the abundance of flowers and milk, or to the pasturage, hides, and charcoal, or to the
mines for the purchase of salt in a moist state; it is entirely free from all (obligation of)
forced labour; it carries with it the hidden treasures and deposits, and the kḷiripta and
upakhḷipta; it is (to be enjoyed) for the same time with the moon and the sun; (and)
it is to follow (the succession of) sons and sons' sons. The enjoyment of it should not
be obstructed by any one. It should be protected and increased by all (possible) means.
And whosoever, disregarding Our charter, shall give, or cause to be given, even slight
vexation, We will inflict on him, or will cause to be inflicted, punishment, together with
a fine, when he is denounced by the Brâhmaṇs."
(L. 35.)—(This charter) has been written by the Âchârya, while Bâppadêva is the
Sênâpati.
(L. 35.)—And in this subject-matter of religion,—in order to avoid boasting of (other)
meritorious actions performed (by Us),—We do not recite the religious merit acquired by
(Our) care and protection of grants made by various kings who are dead and gone.
(But), out of respect for those who shall be pre-eminent in times to come, We make a
request (for protection of the grant) to future (kings).
(L. 38.)—And two verses, sung by Vyâsa, are to be taken as an authority on this
point:—The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the
confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the
same number of years in hell! Whosoever confiscates land that has been given, whether
by himself, or by another, he incurs the guilt of the slayer of a hundred thousand
cows!

No. 57; PLATE XXXVI A.

PAHLADPUR STONE PILLAR INSCRIPTION.

THIS inscription was discovered by Captain T. S. Burt, of the Engineers, and was first
brought to notice in 1838, in the Jour. Beng. As. Soc. Vol. VII. p. 1055, where Mr. James
Prinsep published the text of it, as read by Pandit Kamalakanta from Captain Burt's
facsimile, and, with the text, his own translation.
Pahlâdpur¹ is a village near the right bank of the Ganges, six miles east by south
of Dhânâpur, the chief town of the Mahâîch Pargaṇâ in the Zamânîyâ² Tahsîl or Sub-
Division of the Ghâzîpur District in the North-West Provinces. The inscription is on a
sandstone monolith column,—about three feet in diameter; polished and rounded for a

¹ The ‘Palladpur and Puhladpoor’ of maps, &c. Lat. 25° 26' N.; Long. 83° 31' E.—It should be in
the Indian Atlas, Sheet No. 103, almost opposite the village of ‘Puharpoor’ on the other side of the
river; but it is not entered there.
² The ‘Zamania, Zamina, Zeemaneea, and Zumeniah,’ of maps, &c.

250 CORPUS INSCRIPTIONUM INDICARUM, VOL. III.
length of twenty-seven feet; with a rough base of nine feet; the total length being thirty-six
feet,—which was found lying here, more than half buried in the ground, and was after-
wards, in or about 1853, removed to Benares and set up in the grounds of the Sanskrit
College there, on the north side, where it still stands. At the village of ‘Lathiya,’ one and
a half miles east of Zamânîyâ, there stands another sandstone column, rather smaller
in its dimensions, which is supposed to be the sister-column of the Pahlâdpur pillar; but
it is not inscribed.
The writing, which covers a space of about 4' 11" broad by 4" high, is about ten feet
above the place where the column starts from its present pedestal; and, commencing on
the north-west, it runs a little more than half-way round the column. The greater part of
it is in a state of very good preservation; but a few letters in the third pâda of the
verse, containing the name of the king, if it was recorded, have unfortunately quite peeled
off, and are entirely illegible. There are several inscriptions in the so-called "shell-
characters" on this column; but, apparently, no sculptures connected with the inscription
now published.—The size of the letters varies from ½" to ¾". The characters belong
to the northern class of alphabets. They include the so-called Indo-Scythic form of m,
which disappeared in Northern India very soon after the commencement of the Early
Gupta period; and its appearance here is sufficient to stamp this record as being at
least as early as any other inscription in this volume.—The language is Sanskrit; and
the inscription consists only of one verse, preceded by the word iha, 'here.'—The
orthography presents nothing calling for remark.
The inscription is not dated, and is non-sectarian. It only commemorates the fame
of a king whose name, if it was recorded, is unfortunately peeled away and lost. Mr.
Prinsep suggested, from the comparison in the last pâda of the verse, that his name was
Lôkapâla. From the rhyming ends of the four pâdas, it seems that his name must have
ended in pâla. But, in the third pâda of the verse, we have certainly the well-known name
of Śiśupâla; and,—whether the name as it stands here is that of the king himself, or
is that of the Purâṇic king Śiśupâla of Chêdi, with whom he is compared,—the infer-
ence seems to be that the name of the king, whose inscription is on the pillar, was Śiśu-
pâla. The chief interest of the inscription, however, is in the early date of it, as shewn
by the characters; and in there being the possibility that it is a record of the Pallavas
in Northern India. The king is called pârthiv-ânîka-pâlaḥ. This might be rendered by
simply "the protector of the armies of kings." But pârthiva has so much the appearance
of standing as a proper name here,¹ that I think the correct translation is "the protector
of the army of the Pârthivas." And, if Dr. Oldhausen’s derivation of the name Pallava,
through the form Pahlava, from Parthava, i.e. Parthian,² can be upheld, there will be no
objection to considering that we have in this record a fuller and more completely Sanskrit-
ised form of the early name of this tribe.
TEXT.³
1 Iha [1*] Vipula⁴-vijaya-kîrt[t*]iḥ kshatra-saddharma-pâlaḥ satata-dda(da)yita-
p[â*]rtthaḥ P[â*]rthiv-ânî(nî)ka-pâlaḥ diśi-diś[i] Śiśupâla[—]timâ
[— ⏑]pau(?)laḥ vihita iva Vidhâtrâ pañchamô lô[kapâ]laḥ [||*]

¹ As a Hindu name, it denotes one of the families of the Kauśikas, descended through Viśvâmitra
from Kuśika who was brought up among the Pahlavas (see Muir's Sanskrit Texts, Vol. I. p. 351 ff.).
² See Weber's History of Indian Literature, p. 188, note 201.
³ From the original pillar.            ⁴ Metre, Mâlinî.