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14. THE CONCEPT OF AVATARS
to the court of Vidisha. The Garuda is missing from the top of the column, which stands about 6.5m (21') high. Decoration on the column includes geese, a reed-and-bead pattern, lotus leaves, vegetation, fruit, and garlands. The bell capital is similar to earlier Mauryan examples.
A reproduction of the inscription, along with the transliteration and translation of the ancient Brahmi text, is given here as it appeared in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
1) Devadevasu Va[sude]vasa Garudadhvajo ayam
2) Karito ia Heliodorena bhaga
3) Vatena Diyasa putrena Takhasilakena
MUSALI NÍL 17:1
4) Yonadatena agatena maharajasa
5) Amtalikitasa upa[m]ta samkasam-rano
6) Kasiput[r]asa [Bh]agabhadrasa tratarasa
3.1.8
il f
orum
7) Vasena [chatu]dasena rajena vadhamanasa
" This Garuda-column of Vasudeva, the god of gods, was erected here by Heliodorus, a worshipper of Vishnu, the son of Dion, and an inhabitant of Taxila, who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the Savior, then reigning prosperously in the fourteenth year of his kingship."
As is evident there is no mention of Vishnu or Krishna in this unless Vasudeva mentioned here can be identified with Vishnu or Krishna for which there is no justification historically. Evidently the Vaishnava readings are imposed externally by vested interest. It indicates however that the worship of a Vasudeva as a god was predominant in that part of the area by the second century BC.
The next inscription reads:
1) Trini amutapadani-[su) anuthitani
2) nayamti svaga damo chago apramado
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