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224
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
(VOL. XVIII.
sin of the learned and illustrious Jant and the great-grandson of the learned and illustrious Narasimha of the Chhändöga school, whose five pravaras are, namely, Bhargava, Chyavana, Aurva, Jämadagnya and Apnavāna, and who belongs to the Vatsa-gðtra of Dröņāyaṇashada. Bearing this in mind, you should give (the donee) the bhāga-bhoga-kara, the pravani-kara and all the other sources of income that are due.
[LI. 26 to 36 contain thirteen imprecatory and benedictory verses.]
(L. 36.) Written by the Karanika, the illustrious Thakkura Sahadēva. Engraved by the illustrious sūtradhāra, Hālēka.
No. 24.-CHHATARPUR COPPER-PLATE INSCRIPTION OF GOVINDACHANDRA
DEVA OF KANAUJ: (VIKRAMA]-SAMVAT 1177.
BY DAYA RAM SAHNI, M.A., RAI BAHADUR.
The copper-plates on which this inscription is engraved are two in number. They were forwarded to the Director General of Archæology in India by the District Magistrate of Cawnpore with the following information about the circumstances that led to their discovery: “The plates were discovered on or about the 5th July, 1920, by one Chhatiyan Chamår when digging the foundations for a hut. Local rumour has it that he found with it jewellery and gold ornaments, but of this I have no corroboration. No one has claimed the plates or any knowledge of their antecedents. The site was the village of Chhatarpur near Sheorājpur, & small town, lying on the Grand Trunk Road, 21 miles north-west of Cawnpore. Sheorăjpur was formerly a place of some importance : the seat of the Rajas of Chandėl family. Chhatarpur itself contains a very old temple of Khëroshwar Mahadeo which is regarded with the greatest veneration." The plates were in a much corroded state when they reached the office of the Director-General of Archaeology in India, who had them thoroughly cleaned and sent to me for publication in this Journal
Both the plates on which this inscription is engraved are rectangular in shape, each measuring 1-31" by 10". Their edges are turned upwards, thus fowning a rim, "high, on all sides. The plates are held together by a stout circular ring of copper which passes through two holes cut in the bottom of plate I, and the top of plate II, respectively. To the ring is attached, as is frequently the case with such plates, a heavy seal of the king bearing the inscription Srimad-Govindachandradērah with a figure of Garude above it and a conch below it. The plates, the ring and the seal are in a perfect state of preservation, except one corner of plate II and another of plate I, which are slightly damaged; but we find no lose of the inscription on this account. The epigraph, which consists of thirty-two lines, is engraved on the inner side of each of the two plates, the number of lines on each plate being sixteen. The characters are Nagart and the language is Sanskrit throughout. In respect of orthography, we observe the same peculiarities as in other inscriptions of this king. The letter ba is everywhere written as rd and the palatal é as the dental sibilant, though occasionally it has its own proper sign, especially in
This word means a scribe, i... one who has to do with documenta' (karaña). Mr. Y. R. Gupte has kindly drawn my attention to the fact that certain families among the Chandrasoniys Kity astha Prabbus ( claw of writers in the Deccan) to this day bear the surname of Karnika (Sanskfit karamika). Tbe Prabbus referred to are supposed to have migrated froin the district of Oudh in the United Provinces.
.. The correct name would appear to be Kshirēsvars.
