Epigraphia Indica Vol 20

Author(s): Hirananda Shastri
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India

Page 48

No. 1.)
TWO ADDITIONAL INSCRIPTIONS FROM NAGARJUNIKONDA.
TWO ADDITIONAL INSCRIPTIONS FROM NAGARJUNIKONDA.
BY J. PH. VOGEL, PH.D. After the above paper had been completed, Mr. Longhurst sent me estampages of two more inscriptions discovered by him in the course of his excavations at Nāgārjunikonda. 'Both are found incised on sculptures.
One of these inscriptions occurs on a 'footprint slab.' It consists of one line of writing and comprises twenty-three aksharas, the concluding letter being written below the line owing to want of space. The aksharas measure from 1 to 14 inches in height. The lettering is distinct, except some of the vowel-marks. It will be observed that the inscription is crossed by a series of nine vertical lines which possibly have some connection with the footprint carved on the slab.
The inscription records the donation of a pati padă: It would follow that this word, corresponding to Sanskrit pratipada, ought to indicate the object on which the inscription is engraved. The technical term, however, by which a footprint slab is indicated in the Amarāvati inscriptions, is paduka-paça (i.e., pāduka-patta), or pătukao, patuka (i.e., pāduka).
The donor was Budhi (i.e., Buddhi), the sister of Moda, the Saka. If this interpretation is correct, the mention of a Saka or Scythian is a point of special interest. In this connection it should be noted that among the sculptures excavated by Mr. Longhurst at Nāgārjunikonda there are two showing a warrior in Scythian dress.
In the word bakiniya corresponding to Sanskrit bhaginyāḥ we note a disaspiration of the initial consonant and a bardening of the media ga into ka.
TRANSCRIPT. Siddham) Sakasa Modasa bak[i]n[i]ya Budh[i]ya pat[i]padā deyadhama
TRANSLATION Success! A patipadā, the pious gift of Budhi, the sister of Moda, the Scythian.
The second inscription occurs on a carved stone slab. It consists of only three aksharas which I read :
Dhamasa meaning "Of Dhama". Whether this is the name of the donor or the mason, it is impossible to decide.
No. 2.-NALANDA STONE INSCRIPTION OF THE REIGN
OF YASOVARMMADEVA.
BY HIRANANDA SASTRI. The inscription which forms the subject of this paper was excavated at Nalandā, the wellknown ancient site of Magadha, by Mr. J. A. Page in the official year 1925-26. It was found buried in the debris of the southern verandah of the old vihāra-now called Monastery I-which has yielded not only a large number of bronze or copper images of various kinds and the very valuable copper-plate inscription of Deva paladēva that has been published above, but also the earliest remains so far discovered at Nälanda.
This interesting document is engraved on the top bed of a stone capital-bracket and covers a space of 174 inches by 11 inches. It consists of twenty-one lines of writing and, excepting
1 See A. 8. R., 1925-26, pp. 131 & 158. *Yol. XVII, plate between Pp. 320 and 321.