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256
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
[VoL.XIX.
be only general and vague statements regarding the duration of his reign. My reasons are these. The Nellore District platest of Jayasimha's nephew and successor Vishnuvardhana II distinctly tell us that he made a grant on Wednesday, 13th March, A.D. 664, in the second year of his reign. This shows that he must have come to the throne before 13th March 663. Similarly, the Mattewada plates of the same king record agrant on February 17, A.D.668. which is said to be his Bth regnal year. It is clear from this that Vishnuvardhana II must bave been anointed asking before February 17, AD.664, which date would fall in the first year of his reign. From a study of these records we are able to infer that Vishnuvardhana's accession took place before 13th March, A.D. 663 but not earlier than 17th February, 663 A.D., as 17th February, A.D. 664,according to the Mattewada plates, fell within the first year of his rule. It is obvious from this that Vishnuvardhana II ascended the throne between 17th February and 13th March,663 A.D. Fleet also, after calculating a number of dates, concluded that his accession took place between 14th February and 24th March, A.D. 663. This is only another way of saying that the reign of Jayasimha I ended then. It is true that between Jayasimha and Vishnuvardhana II there was his son Indra-Bhattāraka, but he ruled only for seven daya. If Jayasithha came to the throne after July, 632 A.D. and if his reign ended. between 17th February and 13th March, 663, A.D. it is clear that he ruled for 30 years and a few months. Though Fleet brought his accession down to March, 663 A.D. and assigned to him exactly 30 years, yet, I think he ruled for a space of 30 years and a few months-from sonme time after July 632 to about February-March, A.D. 663.
TEXT.
First Plate. 1 स्वस्ति [*] श्री विजयस्वधावारात् मागणपरिरक्षिताना मानथ्यसगोत्राणां 2 शारितिपुषाणाम् अचमधयाजिना चलुक्यानां कुलजलनिधि3 समुपब राजरतस्य सकलभुवनंमलमण्डितकीर्तिः' श्रो. 4 कीर्तिवर्मणः पौष: पनेकसमरसंघविजयिन: प[२]नर• 6 पतिमकुटमणिमयखावदातचरणयुगलस्य श्रीविष्णुवईन6 महाराजस्य प्रियतमयः प्रवईमानप्रतापीपनतसमस्त
Second Plate ; First Side. 7 सामन्तमण्डलः खबाहुबलपराक्रमोपार्जितम[कल यशो8 विभासितदिगन्तरः स्वसिषयपिशूलावभिबपरग]रपति9 सकलवसचेतमः सतिरिव नयनो मनुरिव विनय10 : खुधिष्ठिर व धर्मपरायणः पर्जुनवदपरनर
1 B.M. 2 (p. 1721) in Madras Topo. List. Also lnd. Ant., Vol. XX, p.7.
B.M.3. bid, p.8. Ind. Ant., Vol.xx, p.10. Ibid, table on p. 12 Read yfifa
.Read * Read : • There is a visarga wrongly engraved before fr.
