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No. 1.)
SOGAL INSCRIPTION OF THE REIGN OF TAILA II: SAKA 902.
(Verse 33.) (She answered that hor food toas) unfit to eat, if touched by dust from the feet of the sinner who should have appropriated the estates of gods and Brihmaus : hence are any more degraded than he who infringes a god's estate P
(Verses 34-35 : two common Sanskrit formule.)
(Verse 36.) So long as the earth, the ocean, the celestial mountain, the abode of the sky, the sun and moon exist, may this pious foundation, whereof the versified regulations have been composed by Kamaliditya, poet of edicts, continue in effect.
(Lines 67-68.) For the almsbouse, in which jointly the town and the prior of the establishment shall religiously maintain in operation this pious foundation, & Brähman woman shall be the cook. Happiness! great fortune !
No. 2.-MAHOBA PLATES OF PARAMARDI-DEVA: (VIKRAMA.)SAMVAT 1230.
BY RAI BAHADUR HIRALAL, B.A., JOBBULPORE.
These copper-plates were found in the well-known Mahoba town of the Hamirpur District in the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, while digging for earth to build a house. They were deposited in a stone chest about 30' below the surface. The two plates were strang together with a ring having a seal, which the finder took for a lock and broke. From the figure of Gaja-Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth) in the middle of the first four top lines it was inferred that the record dealt with some hidden treasure, for which a search was strenuously made, of course to no effect. A few Sanskritists were then taken into confidence to find out the contents of the record, with a view to locating the exact spot of the treasure trove ; but, as none could decipher it, it was decided, with great reluctance, hesitation and misgivings, to seek the aid of an epigraphist, and the choice fell on me. The record was therefore sent to me in charge of a Pandit confidant, who on my telling the contents declared that he had at the time of starting made astrological calculations and had already come to the conclusion that his efforts were to end in disappointment. These plates have thus had a very narrow escape from & perpetuation of the internment which they have undergone for the past three years after their actual discovery.
The plates measure 13" x 10' and weigh 272 tolas, or a little less than 7 lbs. The rims are bordered with separate copper strips about a quarter of an inch in breadth, secured with nails. Only one strip of the second plate has disappeared. Having been deposited underground for centuries, the plates were naturally covered with green verdigris; but on cleaning them the record was found in a gond state of preservation. The language of the text is Sanskrit. Altogether 33 lines are engraved with letters belonging to the northern class of Nagari alphabets, their average size being half an inch. The record is clearly written; but the engraving is not altogether faultless, as some strokes or limbs of letters have been omitted; for instance, in line 16 is engraved as , where sh is turned into p by the omission of the inside stroke which distinguishes the two letters. Similarly in line 26 we find far for fact, the distinguishing hind stroka of ha being left out. There are several such slips. The last portion of line 30 was so carelessly written that it had to be re-engraved. There is very little difference in the formation of va, dha, ra and cha, so that one can be mistaken for the other. Ba is not at all distinguished from va. There are also some spelling mistakes, which will be found corrected in foot-notes. The writing is, however, bold and well executed by one Pålhana, who carved the Semrå platebl some seven years previous to this record,
1 Ep. Ind., Vol. IV, pp. 158 et seq.
