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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XV
of the plates are but very slightly raised into rims to protect the writing. The letters of the inscription are fairly big, their size being about of an inch. The inner side of the first plate, and the two sides of the second plate, have on them 6 lines ench, while the inner side of the third plate contains seven lines, the total number of lines of the inscription being thus 25. The first plate is very slightly damaged at the left upper tip; but this has not interfered with the writing. The seal is protected by prominences of the ring made of the same stuff on both its sides. The prominence just below the right of the seal has given way, perhaps during the cleansing of the plates.
The language of the inscription is Sanskrit, and the alphabəts used resemble those of the Komarti platus of Chandravarman of Kalinga (Epigraphia Inclica, Vol. IV, pp. 112-115). Dr. Hultzschi, who edited the Komarti plates, states that the characters are older than those cf the Achyutapuram plates of Indravarman I (above, Vol. III, p. 123) and closely resemble those of the plates of Vijayanandivarman (I. A., Vol. V, p. 176) And also the Chicacole plates of Nandaprabhanjavavarman (I. A., Vol. XIII, p. 48). Unfortunately the inscription is not dated, like most of the other grants of the Kalinga kings. However, on paleographical grounds it may be, I think, assigned to the seventh century A.D.
The inscription is one of a new Kalinga king of the Eastern Gănga dynasty, known by the name of si-Samantavarman, who was also a devout worshipper of lord Gskarņēśvara, residing on the summit of the Mahendra mountain near Mandasa in the district of Ganjam and who won hy the strength of his own arms the country of Svētaka. From his residence at Svēta ka the king instructs the then administrative officers (yatlukala-vyavahirin) together with the accountants (karana) in the Hamanibböga province (rishaya), that he gives the village Vatagrāma in the said province, with specific boundaries, to Govindaśarman, a Brahman of the Bhāradvāja götra and of the Vajasanoyin charana for the increase of the merit of his parents and self. The inscription was incised by Padmachandra.
It is difficult at present to identify the country known as Svētaka. It may be stated here that Priithivivarma-dera of Kalinga, son of Mahindravarma-dova, made a similar graut in later years from his residence at Svetaka. The plates of Pţiithiviv:urmau have been edited by Dr. Kielhorn in Epigraphia Indica, Vol. IV, at pago 198. They are said to be of the twelfth or thirteenth century A.D. The residence of Svētaka is also mentioned in another set of copperplates of Indravarma-deva of Kalinga, recently discovered at Vishamagiri in the SannoKhemidi Zamindari Estate of the Aska talukr. I shall also edit these shortly. It may he sen from the plates of Samantavarman that he was himself the king of Kalinga who first conquered the Svētaka country. It is not specifically mentioned in the plates that Samantavarman was king of Kalinga; but there can be, I think, no doubt on the point. It is clear from the several inscriptions of the Gang: kings of Kalinga that they had in the country under them a number of capitals, viz. Kalinganagara, Kolahalapura, Simhapura, Sarapalli, Svõtaka, etc. It is very likely that the capital was changed from time to time. The history of Kaling has yet to be written, and the regular line of its kings yet to be worked out. Tho country aud towa of Svētaka, together with the Hāmanibhoga vishaya, have to be located. It was perhaps the country adjoining Kalinga to the west.
The record is all in proso, with the exception of a small customary verse almost at the end, in the Anushtubh metre, requesting fature kings to maintain the gift. Impressions of the plates have been taken by Rao Sahib H. Krishna Sastri, Epigraphist to the Governn:ent of ludia, Madras, to whom they had been sent by me. He has noted the plates as No. 12 in Appendix A of his Annual Report for 1916-17, where, in the "Remarks" coluinn, Hämaribhoga rishaya has been wrongly read as Hāmapigośa vishaya.
