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No. 14.]
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FIVE GRANTS OF GOVINDACHANDRA.
149
(L. 11.) He who, whether he be a member of the Kadamba family or an alien, knowing this, influenced by passion, hatred, greed, etc., takes away (this grant), is saddled with the guilt of having committed) the five great sing. He who protects (it), shares the reward of its merit.
(L. 14.) And it has been said :- "The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; to whomsover, at any time, the earth belonge, to him for the time being belongs the reward (of the grant)." May blessings rest upon cows and Brahmaņas! (And let) prosperity (rest) upon the subjects !
No. 14,-FIVE COPPER-PLATE INSCRIPTIONS
OF GOVINDACHANDRA OF KANAUJ.
BY PROFESSOR F. KIELHORN, C.I.E.; GÖTTINGEN. At Professor Hultzsch's request I shall give an account here of five morel copper-plate inscriptions of the GAhadavala king Gôvindachandradeva of Kanauj, the originals of which are now in the Provincial Museum of Lucknow, and of which ink-impressions were supplied by the Government Epigraphist. Before doing so, I take the opportunity of submitting a few general remarks.
While only three stone-inscriptions, of very small importance, have been hitherto discovered of the Gahadavala kings of Kananj, the number of their known copper-plates amounts to no less than fifty-five. The details are as follows:
One plate of the Maharajadhiraja Madanapala, recording a grant that was made by his
father, the Maharajadhiraja Chandradeva. One plate of Madanapala and his queen Prithvi rika(P). Three plates of Govindachandra, of the reign of his father Madanapala. Twenty-six plates of the Maharajadhiraja Govindachandra. Two plates of Govindachandra and his mother Ralhaņa (Ralba)-devi. One plate of Govindachandra and his queen Nayanakolidevi. One plate of Govindachandra and his queen Gosaladevi. One plate of Govindachandra and his son, the Yuvardja Asphôţachandra (below, C.). Two plates of Govindachandra and his son Rajyapala (Ind. Ant. Vol. XVIII. p. 21, and
below, D.). One plate of the reign of Govindachandra, recording a grant made by the Singara prince
Vatsaraja. Two plates of the Maharájádhiraja Vijayachandra and his son, the Yuvardja
Jayachobandra. Fourteen plates of the Maharójádhiraja Jayachchandra,
1 Bee above, Vol. IV. p. 97 tf.; Vol. V. p. 112 ff.; and Vol. VII. p. 98 ff.
* The plates were found by contractor at Benares near the Bhadaini temple at a depth of about 5 feet from the surface in the course of excavations for the water-works conducted ou the spot in April 1899." See Mr. Venkuyya's Annual Report for the year ending with May 1905, p. 6.
* There can hardly be any doubt that of a royal family of which we possess 56 copper-plates, there must bave existed also considerable number of stone-inscriptions. The stones on which these inscriptions were engraved have been probably used for building purposes or lie buried in the ground. The same may be said regarding the records of e.g. the Maitrakas of Valabhi, of whom we have 40 plates and only & single, most insignificant stone-inscription; and of the E. Chalaksu of Vengt, of whom 29 copper-plate inscriptions have been published, and not # single stone-inscription.