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[VOL. XVIL [Pú]rrva-dattam dvijatibhyo yatnad raksha Yudhishthira [*] mahim [mahi][matan-chhreshtha*]
ya[m] su (?) Sribhadrēna (pa) utkirṇņam
Stha(Sta)mbhē
svara1dase[na]
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
TRANSLATION.
In the year one hundred exceeded by thirteen on this day (as above specified), [during the reign of] parama-daivata parama-bhaṭṭaraka, etc. Kumara-gupta the ryots (of the village). the Brahmapas Sivafarman, Nagasarman and the Mahattaras [Do?]vakirtti, Kahemadatta, Göshthaka, Varggapala, Pingala, Sunkuka, Kala.. ., -vishpu, Devasarman, Vishnubhadra, Khāsaka, Ramaka Gopala,. su (?) Śribhadra, Somapala, Rama and others, and the officers in charge of eight kulas in the village were informed by (some officer whose name appears to have the ending Vishnu 1. 7) as follows:
"In this vishaya of Khadata ?)para the established custom (regarding the sale of culti vated land) prevalent ... to be had (at .. .. such rate) by the nullification of the custom of permanent endowments (nivi-dharma). So deign to make a gift (of land), this day according to this method.... by the neighbouring house-holders who are obedient and who are (thus) addressed establishing ...
Whereas it was so determined, and whereas this determination was accepted by the statement "be it so "-one kulyavapas of cultivated land was given to him, with its area severed by the measurement of 8 x 9 reeds.
Then the same land was given to the Chhandoga" (Samavedin) Brahmana Varaha-svāmin, an inhabitant of the kataka of...., by this official (ayuktaka).
So, considering the merit and demerit respectively of making a gift and confiscating (it), and (the unstability) of body and gold, (this gift is to be preserved). To the same effect has been stated thus by Bhagavan Dvaipayana (Vyasa):
(1) Whoever confiscates land given by himself or by another becomes a worm in ordure and rots with his forefathers.
(2) Land has been given by many kings, such as Sagara and others: the reward (of these grants) belongs to whosoever at any time possesses the earth.
(3) 0 Yudhishthira, best of land-lords, preserve with care land already given to the twiceborn (Brahmanas); for, the preservation of land-grants is more meritorious than the making of a grant. Engraved by su (P) Śribhadra and (written) by Stambhēévaradāss.
1 Mr. Banerji reads the name as Sthahnesvara.
3 Vide my note on this word in Plate No. 4 of the Damodarpur collection, above, Vol. XV, p. 187.
Fide my note on this word, ibid, p. 137. Mr. Banerji's explanation of this term as "a local officer (kulädhikarana) who exercised authority over eight villages" does not seem to be correct. He was rather an officer in the village having supervising authority over eight bulas (for the technical meaning of which see Kallüks commentary on Manu, VII, 119).
Vide my note on the term nici in Plate No. 1 of the Damodarpar collection, above, Vol. XV, p. 131, n. 8, and Indian Antiquary, 1919, p. 14.
Vide my note on this word on p. 182, above, Vol. XV.
The word apaviñchya occurs in the Faridpur grants (Indian Antiquary, 1910) and in Damodarpur plate No. 8, 1, 10, p. 136, above, Vol. XV.
Chhandōga means one studying the Simsvěda. For the use of this term vide Manu, III, 145, and the Banskhera Plate of Harsha, above, Vol. IV, p. 211.
Kafaka may either mean a camp or the capital.
Vide my note on the same in Plate No. 4 of the Damodarpur collection, p. 140, store, Vol. XV.
