Epigraphia Indica Vol 01

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 28

PALLAVA GRANT OF SIVASKANDAVARMAN.
from troubles about salt and sugar,* free from taxes, forced labour........., free from the taking of the oxen in succession, free from the taking of grass and wood, free from the taking of vegetables and flowers; with these and other immunities of the eighteen kinds it must be exempted and caused to be exempted by the inhabitants of the province, by the inhabitants of Apițți and by the inhabitants of Chillereka kodumka.
“ Moreover, in Âpitți (one) nivartana (has been given) to the Brahmans, chief among whom is Agisamaja (Agnisarmårya), for a threshing-floor, (one) nivartana for a house, four labourers receiving half the produce (addhika), two Kolikas.
“Now (f) anybody, knowing this, proud of (being) a favourite of the king), should cause or cause to be caused a small obstacle (to the donees) him, forsooth, we shall restrain by punishment. And further I pray both the future great warriors of our Pallava race, roho may rule) within a period exceeding one hundred thousand years, as well as kings, differing from us (in descent), saying (unto them) : To him among you blessings, who in his time makes the people) act aocording to the rule, written above. But he who acts contrary to it shall be the lowest of men, loaded with the guilt of) the five mortal sins.' A charter (valid) for one hundred thousand years has been given on the fifth day, in the sixth (fortnight) of the rainy season, in the year eight. (My) own order. The charter has been prepared in his own handwriting by the privy coun. cillor Bhattisama (Bhattišarman), the Kolivala freeholder.' Welfare to cows, Brahmans, the writer, the readers and the hearers.'”
POSTSCRIPT. After writing the article printed above, I have received from Dr. J. Burgess the original plates of the grant for inspection and am now able to give the following additions.
The plates are still held together by a single ring to which a nearly circular, somewhat battered, seal about an inch in diameter is attached. This seal shows as emblem an animal, facing the proper right, which may be intended for a deer or a horse. Below there stands the word Sivaskandavarmaṇaḥ, the last three aksharas of which are much defaced and doubtful. The first four aksharas are perfectly plain and leave no doubt that this part of the grant was in Sanskrit, just like the mangala at the end.
On the otherwise blank outside of the first plate the word dithan is inscribed in very large letters. It is obviously the equivalent of Sanskrit drishtam, which according to Dr. Bhagvanlal and Mr. Fleet occurs in the beginning of the Chammak and Sivani grants of the Vakataka king Pravarasena II. I have formerly tried to show that, though the resemblance of the letters in the latter two documents to drishtam is indisputable, they must be read or om or o om. In face of the plain reading on our plate, it is no longer possible to uphold the latter view. The existence of the word drishtam must be acknowledged. As regards its meaning, I think that we may take it in its literal sense and translate it by 'SEEN,' the note indicating that the copy of the grant
In Sanskrit alavanagudakahobham. Digging for alt w a royal monopoly. # I suppose this refers to the obligation of furnishing by turns draught-cattle for the progress of the royal offers. * The addhika i.e., ardhikah, appear to bave been slaver,--see also Âpastamba's Dharmasdtra, II, 28, 1.
* Kolikd corresponds to Sanskrit kaulikda, and may mean weavers. But it is also possible to think of the wellknown tribe of the Kolla, who were slaver.
2 transliterate and complete this, -"yak makakala uparilikhitamaryddayd Gande) arvoartayottaya vaš farmati.