Epigraphia Indica Vol 13

SR No.: 032567
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1915
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 142

No. 7.]
TWO TALESVARA COPPERPLATES.
the Pauravas, uninterrupted as far as Pururavas, who like Fire burnt down the dry grass in the shape of his enemies; who meditated on the lotus-like feet of the lord, the holy Viranesvara, the incarnation of Ananta, whose thousand hoods were the base of the world, carrying the great load of the circle of the earth, and spreading good qualities.
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(Ll. 3-6) His son, the illustrious Dyutivarmman, who obtained the greatness of royalty through the favour of his feet; who takes away the lustre of his brilliant foes like a second sun; the Paramabhaṭṭaraka, the Mahārājādhiraja, being in good health, in his kingdom filled with mountain, pays respects to the excellent kings of my line, enquires about the welfare of the prefect of police, the pramatāra, the warder, the councillor of the king, being the heir-apparent," ,5 the masters of elephants, horses, armour, marts, cooks, cities and districts, land-bolders, landlord-owners,7 police officers, the katukas and other dependents and all neighbouring householders, the local heads of all the provinces and others, and then issues these orders:
(Ll. 6-13) Let it be known to you that, whereas the following request has been made by the solitary lord Trata, the master of the sacrificial sessions who superintends the procession of the idols, who is endowed with political wisdom, breeding, learning, and good behaviour, accompanied by recluses, brahmacharins, and the congregation of the Ganggulikas,10 and further by the temple congregation, preceded by royal doorkeepers, the attendants of the sacred fire, the karankikas, the superintendent of the female (temple) slaves, the minister Bhadravishņu, "For the purpose of continuing the bali, charu and sattra; for the bathing with curds, milk and ghi, the worshipping with perfumes, incense, lanips, and flowers; for the observing of sweeping, besmearing and ploughing; for the repair of dilapidated, broken, and fallen parts, at the feet of the lord Viranesvara-svamin, the incarnation of Ananta, who is worthy of being praised by gods, demons, and the world, grants referring to land, hamlets, villages and crafts, have, after having inscribed them on copperplates, cloth and vṛishatapa-plates,12 been granted, for the sake of their spiritual welfare, by your ancestors, the great kings, whose vow was the fixed observance of doing good to others, by other kings, and by givers of gifts, who were the means of production of many charitable acts. Those grants have been burnt by fire; and after lapse of time some greedy and bad persons, being beset by the evil influence of the Kali age, might lay hands on (those gifts), if there be no written record. So your Majesty may be pleased, in giving sanction to (the existing) grants, to get written specifically the dimensions and the names of the places that are being enjoyed;"
1 The actual reading of the plate is Saurara. I can hardly imagine that in an authentic record the officers concerned would allow such a grave mistake in the name of the family of the ruling monarch to remain. dandoparika is probably some police officer.
Or, in his kingdom of Parvatakara.
Cf. Professor Vogel, Antiquities of Chamba State, Part I, p. 122. For this explanation of kumärämätya, see Ep. Ind., Vol. X, p. 50, n. 2. pilu, an elephant; jayana, armour.
Cf. Vogel, loc. cit., p. 130.
1 Bhogika, those who are in possession of land; bhagika, owners of land. About the form dandavasika, ef. Vogel, loc. cit., p. 129.
With regard to the word katuka I made a reference to the learned Prof. V. V. Sovani, M.A., of the Meerut College. He thinks that it might mean a sect of the Jains. As far as I know, that sect flourished later. Again, a reference to the Jains in particular is not very probable. Katukas apparently mean any persons (officers, members of a religious assembly not generally held in respect at the time, etc.) who were disagreeable to the public. But who these were in particular I cannot say with confidence.
10 We do not know what the Gauggulika assembly was. But this seems to be a very interesting point in the record. Wo expect more information about it in copperplates and other inscriptions that may hereafter come to light.
As to the meaning of kärankika, we may perhaps compare kapalin.
19 Vrishatapa apparently signifies some mixture of copper and another metal. According to 1. 14 the present grant was incised on erishatapa.