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Introductiori
xxx overdress of Nahapāna's time. The bust, facing the right, wears a flat grooved cap and has the hair combed in ringlets falling half - down the ear. The neck shows the collar of the coat.” (B. G. p. 24).
In addition to Nahapāna's coins there are, at Nasik and Karla, the inscriptions of Usāvadāta - his son-in-law and at Junnar, of Ayama - his minister which give us valuable information about him. His title of Kshatrapa which is not found in his coins is mentioned in Usāvadāta's inscriptions in which he is called Ksharāta Kshatrapa Nahapāna. We find the charitable acts of Usāvadāta described in some of these inscriptions. Those that pertain to Gujarāt are - the building of riverside steps at the Barṇāsa or Banās river near Mount Abu '; the giving away in marriage, which included the expenses of the ceremony, of eight Brāhmaṇa brides, at Prabhāsa in Saurāshtra; the building of rest - houses and alms - houses at Broach; of waiting-places and steps on both the banks of the Tāpti and other rivers and also the providing of free ferries to cross them, etc.
According to the B. G., Nahapāna on his conquest of Gujarāt and West Deccan founded the era which is known as the Saka era and which corresponds to 78 A. D.. On the subsequent coins and inscriptions of Kshatrapas, it is according to this era, that the years are given.
Nahapāna had no son. He was succeeded, probably, by his son-in-law Uşāvadāta. Soon after, however, the Kshaharāta satraps were destroyed by Gautamīputra Sātakarni - an Andhra king. His inscription at Nasik mentions Surāshtra and Aparānta as parts of his
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