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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VOL. XVIII.
(1. 44 f.) is unusual and against the rules of grammar. Among the götra names, Jatvakaranpa (1.44) and Kondina (1. 54) stand for Jātükarna and Kaundinya respectively.
After an invocation to Vishņu (v. 1) and the primeval cause of the Universe (v.2), the mythical geneaology of the Pallavas is given in verse 3 which states that from the lotus-navel of Narakār; (.e., Vishnu) came Brahmā; from him came Angiras; from him Dēvaguru (i.e., Bțihaspati): from him the renowned sage Samyu; from his son Bharadvāja was born Dröna of established skill in handling the bow in battles; from him Drauņi (i.e., Asvatthäman) of unsurpassed valour; and from him Pallava. Prosperity and Earth rested with the Pallavas to the exclusion of other kings (v. 4) and the sovereigns of this family obtained glory by conquering all enemies (v.5). In the line of kings counting from Virakurcba and others who had obtained svarga, there was king Hiranyavarman : and then came Nandivarman (v. 6). He was a powerful monarch and it is stated of him that he came to rule the kingdom while he was very young and conquering all enemies, he had his foot-stool adorned with the crowns of the lords of earth who bowed before him (v.7). The darkness of the world was removed by the splendour of his fame (v. 8). Waiting to get entrance, it is said, there were at his gate the Vallabha, Kalabhra, Kērala, Pandya, Chõla, Tulu, Gongana (Konkana) and others (v. 9). Verse 10 gives out that the chief officer of his, who was ruling the province of Mangala-rashtra and who was a great hero, virtuous and respected by the good, having petitioned the king, gave (a brahmadēya) to number of Brāhmaṇas. The Tamil portion records that at the request (vinnappan) of Mangalanādāļvāŋ and at the inatti of Alappakka-Vijaiyanallülān, king Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman issued an order in the 61st year of his reign to the nātsār of Topkarai-Arvalakurram in sola-nādu granting as brahmaděya 40 vēlis of land, which included an old brahmadēya of 24 vēlis, another brahmadeya of 12 vėlis granted in the 59th year of the same king's reign at the request of Mangalanādālvān and the āņatti of Alappākka-Vijaiyanallādāp and the remaining 4 velis now assigned. The nätfär made obeisance to the order, received it on their heads, circumambulated the granted land and planting boundary stones and milk bush, issued their order freeing every kind of land in this grant portion from all the rights of the kingwhich are here specified-and constituted it as a new village under the name of Pattattāļmangalam. The names of the donees are then mentioned (see table below). The inscription was engraved by a certain Sri-Dandi son of Vidēlvidugu-Pallava-perundachchan of Aimpapaichchēri (Aimbupaichchēri) in Kachchippēdu.
There were more kings than one of the name Nandivarman or Vijaya-Nandivikramavarman in the Pallava family. The earliest of them is he who issued the Udayēndiram copper-plate grant wherein he is stated to be the son of Skandavarman, grandson of Simhavarman and greatgrandson of Skandavarman. The Vēlūrpālaiyam plates which say that Simhavishņu was the son of Simhavarman and grandson of Nandivarman', seem to refer to this Nandivarman. The second sovereign of the Pallava family who bore the name Nandivarman was the son of Hiranyavarman and a lineal descendant of Bhima, the younger brother of Simhavishņu. He bore the surnames Kshatriyamalla, Pallavamalla and Vidēlviďugut. The third of the name was the grandson of this Nandivarman Pallavamalla and it was during his reign that the Velūrpasaiyam plates were issued
The first question to determine is to which of the three Nandivarmans we should ascribe the present Inscription. Mr. Venkoba Rao in noticing this inscription in his report for 1922-23
1 Ep. Ind., Vol. III, p. 145.
South-Ind. Inacrs., VOL II, p. 508, v. 9 and 10. The exact relationship between Simhavarman and Nandivarman is not mentioned. Ibid. p. 350, vv. 28-30.
• Ibid. p 360, line 78
Ibid, p. 511, vv. 16-19.
