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No. 35]
3 samata srāhi 31 Phalgupa(na)-krishpa 1 Su(Su)kra
4 väreth érikarana-Suru-senapati(ti) -
5 iu-kämarthe1éri-Purushotmadevankai nai
6 vedya darta' gh[ri]ta-dadhl-vyañjana-tāmvola-sahr
7 te chaula-māņa 1 kau(kai) bhumi-văţi 1
8 Ravanga-Alaapki Mähädeva-Padhika(k)]
KHONAMUKH PLATES OF DHARMAPALA OF PRAGJYOTISHA
9 gochare dataḥ || gandha-phula-ha[ls ] 10 kai
10 Kaliä-mälani-gochare data bhumi-māna 10 [||]
203
No. 35-KHONAMUKH PLATES OF DHARMAPALA OF PRAGJYOTISHA
(1 Plate)
P. BANERJEE, CALOUTTA
This is a set of three copper plates, each measuring 9"x6". They are the property of the Assam State Museum, Gauhati. They were found by one Budhu Sut while tilling the ground at Khonamukh, a village in Mauza Barbhagiya in the Nowgong District of Assam. Khonamukh is about twenty-one miles from the Nowgong town. According to the information supplied to me by the Government Epigraphist for India, the inscription had been kept for some time at the Sivathan of the village, but was brought afterwards to Mr.. L. M. Som, then Deputy Commissioner of Nowgong. And, ultimately, it was secured for the Assam State Museum.
The inscription was first published with an English translation by Mr. P. D. Chaudhury in the Journal of the Assam Research Society, Vol. VIII, No. 4, pp. 113 ff: The late Dr. N. K. Bhattasali, aided by Dr. R. G. Basak, suggested some corrections in respect of lines 35, 36, 37 and 40 of the inscription in the same journal, Vol. XI, pp. 1-3. A fresh and critical edition is now attempted from a nice set of inked impressions kindly supplied to me by the Government Epigraphist for India.
The plates are held together by a ring passing through the circular holes in them. Around the hole in each plate has been left some blank space, about 11"x11" (the width of three lines of writing) in plate 1, and about 1"x1" (the width of two lines of writing) in plates 2 and 3. Joined to the ring is the king's seal which is heart-shaped. The seal is divided into two compartments 'by a ledge running across it'. The upper portion of it shows the figure of an elephant to front while the lower portion is occupied by the legend consisting of the king's name and titles engraved in letters slightly larger in size than those employed in the grant. The seal measures 5"x3".
The first and third plates are inscribed only on their inner side. The second plate containe writing on both the sides. The inscription consists of 58 lines of writing. The first inscribed side contains 16 lines, the second and third 15 lines each, and the fourth only 12 lines. The first side of the inscription is broken at places with the result that some letters have completely disappeared. Some inscribed portions of the fourth side (i.e. the third plate) also are either wholly or partially effaced.
1 Sanskrit ayushkām-ā°.
* Sanskrit éri-Purushottamadevärtham naivedyam (i.e. °devasya naivedy-ärtham) dattam.
