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No. 16]
SUMANDALA PLATES OF THE TIME OF PRITHIVIVIGRAHA
BHATTARAKA: GUPTA YEAR 250
81
The inscription records the grant of a village called Ardhākamanduka together with another locality called Chandanavātaka, both situated in the Parakkhalamärgga vishaya. It was made by Mahārāja Dharmarāja who was ruling at Padmakhollas & feudatory of Prithivivigraba-bhattaraka when the latter was governing Kalingarishtra apparently forming a part of the Gupta-rajya. Dharmarāja is described 48 & descendant (possibly son of Mahārāja Ubhaya,' as born of the queen Bappadēvi and as devoted to the deity Sahasrarasmi, i.e., the Sun-god. The localities mentioned above were made an agrahāra or free gift in favour of a number of Brāhmanas belonging to various götras and charanas, only the chief amongst them being mentioned as the upādhyāya (teacher) Matusvāmin who was an inhabitant of the Homvaka agrahāra. The Brāhmanas are said to have been men of good conduct and learning. The order of Maharaja Dharmarāja was issued to the persons connected with the administration of the region in his time as well as to those who would be associated with it in future. These include the Samanta-mahārāja (or Sämanta and Mahārāja), Räjapritra, Kumāramatya, Uparika, Tadayuktaka, Dandavātika, Sthanāntarika, Vyavahärin and Vaishayika. The land was made free from the obligation of paying any tax or revenue and from all obstacles (sarva-kara-pida-varjita). It was granted together with the uddesa (i.e., space above the tala or ground) and uparikara (i.e., rent to be realised from temporary tenants). The charter was written by Dāsuka the adhikaranika, (i.e., an officer attached to the adhikarana or an office of administration). It was heated (for the purposes of affixing the seal) by a person named Lakshanasvāmin.
The most important historical problems raised by the inscription ander discussion are three. In the first place, it says that in the Gupta year 250 (A.D. 569) the rajya or empire of the Guptas was varttamana, i.e., 'still existing.' Secondly, the rashtra (territory or province) of Kalinga is implied to have formed a part of the Gupta empire. Thirdly, Prithivivigraha-bhatjāraka's rule over the Kalinga-rashtra apparently as a viceroy of the Guptas in the second half of the sixth century has now to be adjusted with the already known facts of that country's history.
As regards the first problem we know that the Gupta empire broke up about the middle of the sixth century, that is to say, some two decades earlier than the date of the Sumandala inscription, when it is said to have been existing. The latest imperial Gupta record is dated in the Gupta year 224 (543 A.D.). There is a Jaina tradition recorded by Jinasõna that the Gupta emperors ruled for 231 years. As the Gupta era started in 320 A.D., which seems to be the date of the beginning of the Gupta sovereignty, the end of the empire, according to the tradition noted above, appears to have come about 551 A.D. That the heart of the Gupta empire in Bihar and the U.P. passed soon after that date to the Maukharis is indicated by the Harähä inscription, dated Vikrama Samvat 611 (A.D. 553), of the time of Isänavarman, the first imperial ruler of the Maukhari family, as well as by the Dē6-Baraņārk inscription? referring to the rule of Sarvavarman and Avantivarman, Bon and grandson respectively of Isānavarman, over the Shahabad District of Bihar. The present inscription indicating the continuity of the imperial Gupta rule as late as A.D. 569 thus seems to
Cf. Successors of the Satavahanas, p. 250 ; Naishadhiya, V, 124, where Nala is described as Vinasena.kula. dipa although he was Virasēna's son.
[ Soo below, p 84, note 5-Ed.] . Select Inacriplions, Vol. I, p. 337.
Cf. Raychaudhuri, Political History of Ancient India, 1938, p. 531; J. R. A. 8. B., Lotters, Vol. XI, p. 70. f.n.1: Guplanati=cha fata-dvayam=cla-trimbachacha varshani, eto.
Smith, Early History of India, 1924, p. 296. • Above, Vol. XIV, pp. 115 ff. and plate.
Corp. Ing. Ind., Vol. III, pp. 216 ff. and plate. • J. R. A. 8. B., Letters, Vol. XI, pp. 72-74. 25 DGA
