Epigraphia Indica Vol 27

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

Page 36

No. 4 ]
MANDASOR INSCRIPTION OF MALAVA SAMVAT 524
13
patthyam 1. 10 and vikkhyāpuke 1. 11. Here the first aspirants are likewise changed to their corresponding surds. In places, u final in, instead of being turned to anus vāra, is changed to the nasal of the class the following consonant belongs to, as in -ādin-guna- 1. 6, svēshām= balānām 1.8 and sitalan=cha 1. 10. In -ransu- 1. 11, anuscura is wrongly represented by i. The sign of jihuānuliya occurs in-dukkha-I. I.
The object of the inscription is to record the construction of a stūpa, a kūpa (well), a prapā (charitable water-stall), and an ārāma (garden or monastery) by Dattabhata, the Commander of the forces of King Prabhākara. Dattabhata was a son of Väyurakshita who was the General of the armies of Govindagupta, a son of the Gupta Emperor Chandragupta II. The year of the date is specified in words as 524 (expired) of Mālava Samvat (literally the era which proclaims the fame of the race of the Malavas), the season of the year (viz., the spring) is expressed by a poetic description, while the month and day are not mentioned at all. The Malava year 524 (expired) corresponds to A. D. 467-68. There is no reference to any place name.
The inscription opens with the auspicious word siddham. Verse 1 is a mangalācharana expressing adoration to Sugata (the Buddha). Verse 2 introduces King Chandragupta who is euiogised as the moon in the sky of the Gupta dynasty. He forcibly deprived kings of their lordship over the earth which he bound over with the ties of his own family from which " it is not liberated yet " (verse 3). He had a son having the noble appellation Govindagupta (verse 4). While kings deprived of their prowess, touched his (Govindagupta's) feet with their heads (in token of submission), even the lord of gods (Indra) was filled with fear and anxiety for the safety of his own throne (verse 5 ). Govindagupta had a General (senapati) named Väyurakabita who possessed many good qualities (verses 6-7). The latter's son, by a northern princess, was Dattabhata who like his father was an abode of fame and virtues and who resembled Kubõra in munificence, Brihuspati in intellect, Smara in the art of love, and Yama in fight or destruction (verses 8-9). King Prabhākara, who was a menace to the enemies of the Guptas, appointed him as the Commander-in-chief of his armies (verse 10). As an humble mark of his desire to requite the obligations of his parents, Dattabhata excavated a well and constructed a slupa, a prapā and an ārama (verse 11). Verse 13 specifies the date of the inscription in the words 'when five hundred, and eight multiplied by three, autumns proclaiming the spotless fame of the Mālava race had expired'. Verses 14 and 15 contain a poetic description of the spring, implying thereby that the works were accomplished in that season of the year. Verse 18 states that the objects referred to in verse 11 were situated within the limits of Lököttara-Vihāra which was possibly the proper name of some local Buddhist monastery probably named after the Lököttaravādin sect of the Hinayana form of Buddhism. The Buddhist institutions alluded to in this inscription were evidently situated at or in the beighbourhood of Mandasor where the inscription was found, although the place name is mentioned in the record. The sculptures and inscriptions (5th and 6th centuries A. D.) found at Mandasor (Dasapura) so far are all Brahmanical. Our inscription is thus the first Buddhist record hailing from Mandasor.
The inscription does not refer itself to the reign of any king. In the genealogical portion two scions of the Gupta dynasty are eulogised, namely Chandragupta and his son Govindagupta. These are obviously none other than Chandragupta II of the Imperial Gupta dynasty and his son Govindagupta.
Chandragupta had been dead long before the date of our inscription. Though our inscription is the only stone inscription so far known, which mentions Govindagupta, he is already known