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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. III.
These are two odd copper-plates, marked on their first sides with the Tamil numerals 2 and 5, and inscribed on both sides. Each plate measures about 93" broad by 21" high, and has on the proper right a ring-hole, about ' in diameter. There is neither a ring nor a seal, and the plates are now tied together with a string. The engraving, though not very regular, is done fairly well, and the writing, with one or two insignificant exceptions, is well preserved. The size of the letters is between 7" and ". The characters are Grantha. The language is Sanskrit; and the text on both plates is in verse. In respect of orthography I need only notice the doubling of a consonant before y and v in vibhattyai, plate ii. line 1, Garudaddhvaje, plate ü. line 9, and maddhyame, plate v. line 11. As regards the language, the most noteworthy point is that the author in line 1 of plate ii, undoubtedly wrote trai, instead of tray which does not suit the metre.
The inscription, as we have it, is part of a grant of "the lord of princes" Vira-Chôļa. Plate ii. treats of the mythical genealogy of the Chola family, the beings actually mentioned being the god Brahman, his son Marichi, his son Kaśyapa, his son the Sun, his son Manu, his son Ikshváku,' his descendant (separated from Ikshváku by many generations) Sagara, his descendant Bhagiratha, and Raghu. Plate v. records that, when the lord of princes (or king) Vira-Chôļa was ruling the earth, his spiritual guide Nila advised him to make a grant in favour of some Brahmans; that Vira-Chóa then went to the Chola ruler Parak@sarivarman and asked leave to bestow on the Brahmaņs a village in his own territory which he promised to name after Parakesarivarman; and that, having got the necessary permission, he gave the village of Parakesarichaturvedimangala, situated between the river Kåvêri and another, small river, to a hundred and fifty (Bråhmans).
I cannot say anything definite about the Chola ruler Parakesarivarman and the subordinate prince Vira-Chôļa, mentioned in this inscription; nor am I able to identify the village of Parak@sarichaturvedimangala.
TEXT.
Second Plate; First Side. 1 bhavatâm bhavatát(də) vibhůttyai trays-sara-vastu chaturanana2 mradi-têjaḥ 11 Vidhatus=tasya putrô=bhat(n)-Marichi[r]=mmana3 88 mahân [1] Mari(ri)chês=cha tandjo=bhat Kasyap-44 khyo mahåmani[ho] 11 Kasyapasya m unêr=&sid=&tma5 jo bhanuman=Ravirt=yviévèshån=cha
10kåpåmandha6 kar-Apanôda-ksit
Vêda-védarnga-tat[t"]vajño
Vi.
From Brahman to Ikshvaku the genealogy agrees with the one given in the Kalingattu-Parani; Ind. Ant. Vol. XIX. p. 830. Compare also the genealogies in the large Leyden grant (Dr. Burgesa' Arch. Survey of Southern India, Vol. IV. p. 216) aod in the Vilkirama-86lan-Vid (Ind. Ant. Vol. XXII. p. 147).
[On page 71 above, reference is made to a chief, named Vira-Chola, who was the father of Vira-Champa rake-Servat 1236). The Pañoha-Pandava-Malai rock-inscription (ante, p. 75, vote 1) records a gift by an earlier Vire-Chola, who was the son of the lord (udaiydr) Latar ja Pagalvippavar-Gande. This Vira-Chols appears to have been a local chief, who was not related to the Chola family at all, but on whom the name Vira-Chola was bestowed with reference to the ruling dynasty. Similarly, the Vira-Chola of this Uday@ndimm fragment need not necessarily have been a Chla, and the genealogy on the first plate of the grant may have been that of his sovereign, the Chola king Parakesarivarman. The latter cannot be identified as we know from inscriptions that the surname Parakdarivarman was borne by several Choļs kings.-E. H.] From an impression received from Dr. Holtzsch,
Metre: Vasantatilaka. Originally traindra. was engraved, as required by the metre; afterwards the as of trai has been struck out, and has been inserted below the line, between the akshanas tra (for trat) and ed.
• Metre : $10ka (Anushtubh); And of all the following verses. 7 Rend viņi vitud.
* Here one syllable is missing, and the particle cha yields no sense. Probably the intended reading is องของa8aeded.
