Epigraphia Indica Vol 14

SR No.: 032568
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sten Konow, F W Thomas
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1917
Total Pages: 480
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 24 MB

Page 131

108
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XIV.
(V. 25) Even that (great) Śiva is the bearer of the Gamga; Vishnu has the ocean for his abode; Brahma is sprung from the water-born (lotus). Hence Water is superior to everything (else).
(V. 26) A shed for distributing water (prapa), a well and a reservoir, a canal and a lotus-tank the merit of (constructing) them is millions and millions (of times) higher in
succession.
(V. 27) As the water of a tank serves to nurture both movable and immovable creation on (this) earth, even the lotus-seated (Brahma) is unable to recount the fruit of merit (attaching) to it.
(V. 28) Having thus heard the supreme reward, king Bhavadura, the pious soul, commenced to make the earth tank-nourished (taṭaka-mātrikā).1
(L. 48) Its procedure (was as follows):
(Vv. 29-31) It (i.e. the tank) is situated in the country to the south of Sriparvata (Srisaila), the great sacred place of pilgrimage; two yojanas to the east of the sacred place (tirtha) called Ahōbala; in the division of the gentle blessed Siddhavaṭa-natha; two yōjanas to the west of his (capital) Udaya-giri; and to the east of the flourishing city of Porumamilla. I shall (now) describe in this edict the sequence of the period of construction of the tank :
(Vv. 32-35) In the second half of the creator's life-time, in the Světa-varaha Kalpa, in (the age of) the Vaivasvata Manu, and in the 28th Yuga,-in that divine part of the countryin the first quarter of Kali, after the lapse of four thousand, four hundred and seventy(in figures) 4470-years of mortals, and also after the (lapse) of Saka years measured by the number of the earth (1), the Namdas (9), the eyes (2), and one (1)-(in figures) 1291in the (cyclic) year Saumya, in the month called Kärttika, on the fourteenth (day) of the bright half, on the auspicious day of Guru combined with Pushya, when there was Karkataka lagna, under the influence of well-chosen auspicious planets,
(V. 36) Of the tank constructed (at the above specified time and place) according to (the requirements of) the Sastra I shall in this edict describe the twelve constituents (amgat) for the benefit of future kings:
(V. 37) (i) a king endowed with righteousness, rich, happy (and) desirous of (acquiring) the permanent wealth of fame, (ii) and Brahmana learned in Hydrology (pathas-śāstra), (iii) and ground adorned with hard clay, (iv) a river conveying sweet water (and) three yojanas distant (from its source), (v) the hill parts of which are in contact with it, (i.e. the tank), (vi) between these (portions of the hill) a dam (built) of a compact-stone wall, not too long (but) firm, (vii) two extremes (frimga) (pointing) away from fruit (-giving) land (phala-sthira) outside,7 (viii) the bed extensive and deep, (ix) and a quarry containing straight and long stones, (x) the neighbouring fields, rich in fruit (and) level, (xi) a water course (i.e. the sluices) having strong eddies (bhrama) on account of the position of the mountain (adri-sthana), (xii) a gang of men (skilled in the art of) its construction,-with these twelve essentials an excellent tank is easily attainable on (this) earth.
1 With tataka-matrika ef. the terms doea-matrika and nadi-matrika in a similar sense. Taking a yojana to be equal to 9 miles, this distance is only approximately correct.
Construe: dhatoḥ parardhakālē.. divye taddesa-bhāge nirmitasya tatakasya dvadatāmhgāni vakshyāmi. These amgas are later on called eadhanas (1. 70 of the text) and are no doubt identical with the latter.
See above, p. 99.
This must obviously refer to the range of hills which is utilised to form a part of the dam.
1 I.e. below the tank.
This may be taken to be a clumsy description of the fact that at the egress the water is led over a stony bed along a tortuous line, so that it issues whirling round with great force, forming strong eddies.