Epigraphia Indica Vol 17

Author(s): F W Thomas, H Krishna Sastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 32

No. 3.)
A NAGA FIGURE IN THE MATHURA MUSEUM.
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of three lines, of which the second and third are much damaged, making the decipherment of a part of the third line impossible.
Several images of Någa deities, both inscribed and without inscriptions, have been found in Mathura. Of these the following are dated :
Image of Dadhikarpa, of Samvat 26 va 3 di 5 (Ind. Ant., Vol. XXXIII, p. 102, and Ep. Ind., Vol. I, pp. 380 f. and 390, No. XVIII, and Dr. Vogel's paper in the Arch. Survey Roport for 1908-9, pp. 159. ff.).
Någa image of the year 40 of Huvishka, in the second month of winter, the 23rd day (Dr. Vogel's catalogue of the Arch. Museum at Mathura, No. 13, pp. 88-9; 4. S. R. for 1908-9. p. 161).
Näga image of an 52 va 3 di 25 (Dr. Vogel's catalogue of the Arch. Museum at Mathura, p. 91), Arch. Survey Report for 1908-9, p. 161.
Besides, there is a fragment which Dr. Vogel assigned to the 3rd century of the Christian era (Dr. Vogel's catalogue of the Arch. Museum at Mathura, p. 90; 4. S. R. for 1908-9. p. 162).
The image described in this note dates from the year 8 of the Kushåņa era and is the earliest dated Näga one at Mathura.
The palæography does not call for many remarks. The general characteristics are dealt with in Dr. Bühler's Indian Palæography, edited by Dr. J. F. Fleet, p. 41. The peculiar. ities observable in the present inscription are these :-(1) The kha is triangular below, but its hook is large ; (2) the upper horizontal stroke of ra is turned into a curve, while the lower is split up into lines ; (3) ta in the 3rd line shows a loop ; (4) the lower part of da is more slanting than in all examples given by Dr. Bühler ; (5) va is rounded on the left ; (6) the left limb of sa is never turned into a loop.
TEXT. L. 1 Maharajasya rj-[&]tirajasya (Shahi] Kaņikkhasya Sal 8 gri 4 di 5 L. 2 a[y] p[ärvv]ay[]m bhagavataḥ [Bhumi-niga]sya (1) pukshiriņi ar[a]mo
cha prasti]. L. 3 (shthäpito ... patras[y]a. turasya niya(mada]kisya (sarvva]sat[v]a hi(hita)-40 (sukhártham) (2) ......
REMARKS. (1) There can be little doubt about the reading Sudmi-ndyasya. I have examined the stone in all lights and shades. (2) Hi and su at the end of the third line stand for hita-sukhartham. This abbreviation is due to want of space.
TRANSLATION. In the year 8 of the great king, the king of kings the Shahi Känikkha in the fourth (month of summer, on the 5th day on that (date specified as) above, a tank and a garden of the holy Bhimi naga was founded ......... otura, son of ..... for the welfare and happiness of all sentient beings.
The Prikritized form Känikkha deserves notice. The form with the long d in the first syllable has already been observed in two inscriptions, namely those on the statue of Kanishka
1 From the original. * It appears that the engraver first cat eya, bat afterwards found out his mistake and dooply ongraved only a.