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No. 20.]
TWO INSCRIPTIONS FROM SHERGADH.
131
mance of) those Aévamedha1 and other sacrifices the very mention of which is (now) relegated to the domain of non-existence by kings of the earth belonging to the Kali age, who have accumu lated (newly) introduced sins of many kinds, (but) which was liked ever so much by (kings) who were upholders of fame.
(Verse 11) This Madhavavarman, whose fame is as white as the rays of the autumnal moon and who is competent to crush the pride of his enemies, being in good health, and (while) putting up in his residence in Köngöda,*—
(Lines 25-35) duly honours and esteems the illustrious Samantas, Mahāsāmantas, Mahārājas, Rājanyakas, Rajaputras, Antarangas, Dandanayakas, Dandapāsikas, Uparikas, Vishayapatis and Tadaniyuktakas, the present and the future vyavaharins (administrative officers), the janapadas with the Karanas and the chief Brahmanas and (also) those of the Chata, Bhata and Vallabha classes (with the following information) :
Be it known to you that the village of Sala(Māla?) situated in the vishaya of Thōraṇa, has been given, free of all dues, by me, to last as long as the sun and the moon endure and the earth lasts, with a libation of water for the enhancement of the religious merit of my parents and of my own self, to Bhatta Vittadeva of the Kausika götra, having for his pravaras Utathya and otherr) belonging to the Chhandōga charana and the Kauthuma sākhā.
As this was a copper-plate grant, no one should stand as an impediment (in its operation) even in future Kalpas, out of respect to dharma in ten ways. There are verses also mentioned in the Manava Dharmasastra (to the same effect) :
(Verses 12-15) (There are four of the usual imprecatory and benedictory verses.)
(Verse 16) In this (grant) Upendrasimha, son of Kunḍabhögin, was the writer, and the charter was marked by Jayasimha and incised by Chhaddibhögin.
(Verse 17) Gangabhadra, whose mind was attached, through favour, to his master whom he served thoroughly, and who was appointed to the duties of the Pratihāra, acted as the dulaka herein.
Sarhvat 20(1)+ 3.
No. 20.-TWO INSCRIPTIONS FROM SHERGADH.
BY PROF. A. S. ALTEKAR, BENARES HINDU UNIVERSITY.
Shergadh, where the two inscriptions edited here are found, is a deserted town in the Atru Nizamat or Taluka of the Kotah state in Rajputana. It is about 12 miles to the southwest of the railway station Atru on the Kotah-Bina line of the G. I. P. Railway. Within the stony massive walls of the town there are more than three thousand houses in different stages of dilapidation. The present population, however, is hardly more than 300 and so the township presents a dreary appearance even by day. According to local tradition, the present name
1 This refers to the restoration of the varnasramadharma in the seventh century A.D. not only in Kalinga, but in many other parts of North-Eastern India.
Also spelt as Kaingöda in some of the other grants of the Sailöd bhava dynasty.
For the meaning and functions of these terms, vide the author's article in Bengali on "the administration of the Pala kings" of Bengal: Prabasi, Aávina issue, B. S. 1343.
Thōrana, is also mentioned as the vishaya in which the village of Arahanpa mentioned in the Khurda grant (J. A. S. B., Vol. LXXIII, 1904, pp. 282 ff.) is situated.
[See p. 129, n. 8.-Ed.]
