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No. 22.]
GADVAL PLATES OF VIKRAMADITYA I.
101
The writing on the plates is in an excellent state of preservation. In some cases the sign of anusvāra is indistinct and has to be supplied from the context. Throughout the record no mark of punctuation is used. The alphabet resembles that of the other grants of the same period and dynasty. The secondary forms of i and are not always clearly distinguished, and hardly any difference is made between the two letters ta and cha, and between the secondary forms of ri and ra. The lingual occurs in the geographical name Cholika (1.25) and in the expression khan[de]ga vadla (1. 28) which, as well as salage (1.31), was taken over from the Telugu vernacular of the donee. Among the names of private individuals, three are Pråksit (Chanda and Kanha, 1. 27, and Mahisara, 1. 29), and three Dravidian (Tatamma and Padamma, 1. 29, and Konna, 1. 30). But the language of the whole record is Sanskrit, both prose and verse. The rules of sandhi are scrupulously observed, except in three instances (11. 1, 26, and 38).
The inscription records a grant of land by the (Western) Chalikya (1. 4 f.) king Vikramaditya (I.), the son of Satyäśraya (.e. Pulakēśin II.), grandson of Kirtivarman (I.), and greatgrandson of Pulakēsin (I.). Each of these four kings receives the same panegyrical epithets as in other grants of the same period. At the end of the description of the reign of Vikramaditya I. the new grant adds a passage which is already known from his Haidarābād plates ? and the spurious Kurtakoti plates. As pointed out by Professor Kielhorn, this passage consists of four Arya verses. These four verses mention several surnames of Vikramaditya I., vis. Anivärita, the unopposed' (verse 2), Srivallabha, the favourite of fortune' (verses 3 and 4), Ranarasika, fond of fighting,' and Rājamalla, 'the wrestler with kings' (verse 5). Verse 3 states that he defeated Narasimha, Mabendra, and Isvara, i.e. the three successive Pallava kings Narasimhavarman I., Mahēndravarman II., and Paramēģvaravarman 1.6 The last of these three kings is again named as Isvara-Potaraja? of Kanchi in a Vasantatilaká Ferse (6) which follows after the four Aryas. The conquest of Kāñchi, the capital of the Pallavas, is alluded to also in verse 4. Verse 5 states that Vikramaditya I. destroyed the Mahā. malla family. As suggested by Professor Kielhorn, this is another reference to the Pallavas; for Mahämalla seems to have been a surname of Narasimhavarman I., and Mamallapuram is the ancient name of a Pallava city, the remains of which now go by the name of the Seven Pagodas."
The date of the grant was the full-moon tiths of Vaišākha in the twentieth year of the reign, which was current after 596 Saka jears had passed (11. 24-26). This date does not admit of verification; but, an Dr. Fleet kindly informs me, “the equivalent may be taken as Tuesday, 25th April, A.D. 674, though some authorities might make it the next day,-at any rate for any eastern parts of India." It fully confirms the correctness of the results of Professor Kielhorn's calculations of two other dates of the same reign.10
When Vikramaditya I made this grant, his army had invaded the Choļika-vishaya, i.e. the Chola province," and was encamped in Uragapura on the southern bank of the Kāvēri river (1. 25 f.). In sending me the impressions, Mr. Venkayga drew my attention to the fact
Ind. Ant. Vol. VI. p. 76 f.
Ibid. Vol. VII. p. 219 f. Göttinger Nachrichter, 1900, p. 345 ft.
• Seo Prof. Kielhorn's remarka, loc. cit. pp. 346 and 359, and compare saro-anivarit ajra in verso 10 of the present inscription. Vikramiditya II. may have likewise borne the surname Anivärita, which forms part of the names of two of bis officers. See Ind. Ant. Vol. X. p. 164 (Anivärit-achari); above, Vol. III. p. 860 (AniväritaPuryavallabha), and Vol. V. p. 201, pote 5. Compare also above, Vol. IX. p. 206, note 3; and above, p. 15.
This surname of Vikramaditya I. occurs in two Pallava inscriptions at Kdücbi. See South Ind. Inser. Vol. I. p. 13, verse 5, and p. 23, verse 2; Dr. Fleet's Dyn. Kan. Distr. p. 329; above, p. 2.
• See South-Ind. Inscr. Vol. I. p. 145, note 4. * See above, r. 7, note 2.
• Loc. cit. p. 347 4. • See now above, p. 1.
10 See above, Vol. IX.p. 102, 1 Literally, the province of the sõliyar or inhabitants of sõlam."
