________________
No. 43] NANDSA YUPA INSCRIPTIONS
267 Can we identify Mahāsēnāpati Bhattisoma of this fragmentary record with [Sri?] soma, the hero of the inscriptions A and B of the Nāndsä yüpa ? The question is difficult to answer with certainty, but the probability is that the two personages are identical. It is true that the title Mahäsënā pati is not given to Sri.?]sõma in inscriptions A and B. The records however make it clear that he was a distinguished general, who had a number of victories to his credit, and there is nothing improbable in the Mālavas having formally conferred that title upon (Sri ?]soma in recognition of his great services to the republic. A Yaudhëya record, no doubt about two centuries later in date, shows that the titles Mahārāja and Mahāsēnāpati were conferred upon the highest dignitary of that republic, who was elected to the post.1 [Sri ?} sõma may have got this honour later than 226 A. D., when the Nändsä yüpa records were inscribed. That the fragmentary inscription we are dealing with here was issued late in the life of Sēnāpati Bhattisoma is made clear by its referring in 1. 6 to his sons and grand-sons as well established in life. In favour of the identity of Bhattisoma with [Śri ?]soma, it may be further pointed out (i) that the palaeography of the three records is of the same period (ii) that both [Sri ?]soma and Bhattisoma are described as the leader of the Sögis and that (ii) Śrīsoma is hardly different from Bhattisāma, both Śri and Bhatti being honorific prefixes. Inscriptions A and B refer to [Sri ?]soma's benefactions in favour of gods and sages; the fifth line of the present record, which refers to a forest asrama of ascetics, probably ment ons & similar donation of Bhattisōma: This may also lend additional weight to the view that Mahäsēnāpati Bhattisõma is identical with (Sri ?]sõma.
TEXT
INSCRIPTION O
1
T
2 [#]uitet: [!! - 3 parents petefica] 4 [9] anfech: 0] 5 I (ET) [a] 6 grafara darat(a)? garatasferfosa7 HET ATT feren (wa:) wfgetarialforres ()
#
Fleet, C. I. 1. Vol. III, p. 252. * From ink-impression. • The letter sva looks like me. • The letter pd was probably at the end of the previous line.
The restoration of nd is conjectural.
The turning of the curve for the medial mind to the right is inscriptions A and B. Compare kúpa in A, 1. 4 and B, L. 10.
Lotters Ndrihaith aro oarelosely engraved and tha is rather faint.
peculiarity shared by this inscription with
