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182
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
X. Inscription (No. 9) of Pothasiri, Year 86 (Plate II)
[On the back wall of a big hall in Cave No. 7, about a mile and a half to the west of Gopalpur and south of Cave No. 6.]
TEXT
[VOL. XXXI
1 Si'dham [ Maharajasa Kochhiputasa Pothasirisa samvachare 80 6 Gi-pa 6(?) diva 102
2 etiya puruvaya negamasa Ujhasa putena amacha-Bhabaṭhena ketana-lataghara kārāsi(pi)tā [*] dhamo vadhatu |
TRANSLATION
Success! In the year 86 on the 10th day of the 6th fortnight of Summer. On this day has been caused to be constructed by the minister Bhabaṭha, son of the merchant (negama) Ujha, a cave shelter for dwelling. May piety prosper.
XI. Inscription of Bhattadeva, Year 90 (Plate III)
[Commencing on the back wall and continued to the right wall of the hall in Cave No. 5.]
TEXT
Back wall:
Sidham [|] Mahārājasa Bhatta]'devasa samvachhare navate 90 Hemanta -pakhs padhame 1 divase padhame 1 etae puruvaye negamasa Ajñātakasa natikena Vesakhasa putena ne[ga]mera Dhanamitakena
Right wall:
[la]yo(ya)na karita ][*] dhamo vadhatu [*]
TRANSLATION
Success! In the year 90 on the first day of the first fortnight of Hemanta (of the eign) of Maharaja Battadeva. On this day has been constructed by the merchant (negama) Dhanamitaka (Dhanamitra), the grandson of the merchant (negama) Ajñātaka and the son of Vesakha (Vaisakha), a cave-shelter. May piety prosper.
1 The medial sign is not deeply engraved.
Unlike the other inscriptions of this ruler, the details of the date are given only in figures and not both in words and numerical figures. For the season and the fortnight, only abbreviations have been used.
The punctuation is indicated by a horizontal stroke.
There is a cell to the left. There was another cave at a distance of above 20 yards from this cave. the roof of which has fallen and there is now no indication if it originally contained any inscription.
The reading seems to be Bhaffa here and not Bhada. Cf. d in divase, which is quite different. The anusrara is shown in red paint and was not engraved through oversight.
The sign of medial à in jid is engraved on top of the conjunct letter. There is a chisel-mark on ka making it look like ka on the impressions.
It appears that vd was engraved first and then corrected into re with the result that the syllable looks like ro. There is also a chisel-marks on va making it look like ro. The rock in this cave is very rough and there are numerous chisel-marks which give the impression of vowel sign on the impressions.