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No. 22.]
SURAT PLATES OF KARKKARAJA SUVARNAVARSHA; SAKA 743.
147
Let it be known to you that for the enhancement of the fame and religious merit of myself and my parents was given by me,-while staying in the victorious camp on the bank of the holy Vankikā,-(the field) called Hiranyayogā (irrigated by) the well of Dhāshu, situated to the north of the village Ambāpātaka, attached to bri-Nāgasărikā whose boundaries are as follows) :-to the east (the field watered by) the well of Sridhara, to the south a stream, to the west the great river Pūrāvi, and to the north the public) well of Sambapura ;-to the glorious preceptor Aparajita, the disciple of revered sri-Sumati, who was the disciple of Mallavādin (belonging to) Sēna-sangha, a branch of the fourfold Mūla-sangha, for the purpose of (daily) worship, cooked rice offerings, and the repairs and renovation of the monastery (vasatikā), which is an ornament of Sambapura and is attached to the temple of Arhat, situated within the boundaries of sri-Någasärikā.
Ll. 48-53. This (field), as determined by its boundaries, has thus been given by me) with the discharge of water, after having bathed, on the full moon day of Vaisakha, when seven centuries in creased by forty-three (years) had elapsed according to the era of the Saka king, to be enjoyed by successive disciples as long as the sun, the earth, the oceans, the rivers and the mountains endure, along with the right to receive the revenues in corn and gold, exempt from the exactions levied at) the entry of the irregular and regular soldiers, and interference from all the royal officers. While this field is being enjoyed or caused to be enjoyed, tilled or caused to be tilled or assigned (by the donee or his successors while) leading the life proper for a (Jain) preceptor, nobody whatsoever is to cause any hindrance. Similarly this gift should be confirmed and protected as in no way different from their own donations by future kings, whether our descendants or not, realising that prosperity is as ephemeral as the lightning and remembering that the religious merit of the gift of land is common (to all the rulers ruling for the time being) and that the life is as unstable as a drop on the edge of (a blade of) grass. Whosoever, owing to the clouding of his mind by the cover of darkness of ignorance would snatch away or consent to this grant) being snatched away would incur the five great sins as also the (five) subsidiary ones. And it has been observed by the divine Vyāsa, the arranger of the Vēdas :
(Here follow the usual imprecatory verges.)
Ll. 59-62. The donor who has seen the contents of this document writes in his own handwriting his opinion that this (engraving) is in accordance with the charter originally granted). This is my own sign-manual, of bri-Karkkarāja, son of Indrarāja. This (charter) was drafted by me, Nārāyana, the son of Durgabhatta, of noble extraction, the principal foreign minister.
V. 49. May the system of Jina, which hates evil and which is as efficacious as the thunder bolt in destroying the mountains, (in the form) of other theories, be (ever) successful.
v. 50. Victorious is the Dharma preached by Jina, ever compassionate to the six classes of animate beings and which shines in this world as the crest-jewel of all other religions.
1 In Gujarat, fields are often known after the names of the wells irrigating them. The well by which this field was irrigated was apparently constructed by an individual named Dhishu.
Charubali is enjoined in Hinduism, but not in Jainism. The inclusion of this phrase in the present record is due to the absentmindodness of the drafter, who, acoustomed to include this expression in Brahmanical grants where it was appropriate, allowed it to remain in the present grant also, forgetting that it was in favour of * Jain establishment
This sentence is rather enigmatioul. If the reading were to be amended as Salaanada ri-lipinlab the translation would be The principal) writer (in the secretariat office) of the donor certifies that ... !
