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210 EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
(VOL. XXXIII r looks different from the form of superscript r added to other consonants. Visarga is represented either by two dots (cf. samal in line 1) or by two slightly curved strokes placed one above the other (of. 8-odrangah sa-parikarah in line 11).
The orthography of the record shows a considerable amount of carelessness on the part of the scribe and the engraver. Words like arahati for arhati (line 24) exhibit the influence of local pronunciation. Though a separate sign for b was not unknown (cf. the brased word Budayyake in line 9), the letter has been represented by u throughout as is.generally done in the contemporary inscriptions of North India. Occasionally consonants are doubled in conjunction with
(cf. mūrttio in line 4 and pittro® in line 13). Sometimes the signs for anusura and visarga have been either omitted (e.g. in ya[*] bri[*] in line 2), while often one of them is written for the other (e.g. in pakshah for paksham in line 5, and väsinan for väsinah in line 17). In some cases, visarga is unnecessarily added (e.g. in ghattanaḥ in line 4). Class nasals havo been generally used instead of anusvära (cf. Indra in line 1; pandita in lines 2-3; tunga in line »). Anusvāra is once wrongly changed to si in vanga for vamia in line 17. While it is wrongly used for final min phalan in lines 20 and 26, it is wrongly retained in dattām-vä in line 22 and samua in line 30.
The language of the record is Sanskrit, and the composition is a mixture of prose and verse. For instances of grammatical errors, see Sailendrarājā for rājad in line 3, nirjitua for nirjitya in line 5, Indrarājā for orājah in lines 6-7, svāminasyal for svānime in line 15, rājānes for rajabhiḥ in line 19, etc.
The record belongs to toe time of Samanta Indraraja and is dated in his regnal reckoning without mentioning any era. The details of the date are given as the avonth day of the first fortnight of the month of Jyễshtha of the Arst (or, eleventh) year apparentıy of Indraraja's reign, the week-day being Tuesday and the nakshatra Uttarabhadrapada. The month was no doubt Purnimānta. The details are, however, not sufficient to determine the exact date of the record. As indicated above, the palaeography of the inscription suggests a date about the first half of the 7th century A. D.
The document starte with a Siddham symbol followed by thv auspicious word svasti. The first verse that follows instroduces Samanta Indrarāja's fathe, whose name was probably Kshitipati. The next verse describes the donor of the grant, viz. Indrarāja, as a great figarer.
A long passage in piose in lines 7-17 records Samanta Indrarāja's declaration trom his residence at Mandaka to his officers including the grāmakūta (village-headman) and ths chief perBons and residents of Salagramamantamaraka (or Sālagrāmamantamaraka) within Gulagrāmake which was situated in Akasa-rashtra forming a part of the Chhõndaparanga vishaya. The village was granted as & tax-free holding to Bhavagvāmin, sonof Nāgasvamikarman of the Sāndilya götra and the Vājasaneya-Mäddhyandina säkha. The order regarding the execution of the grant was passed by Indrarāja himself. The above section is followed by IndraTāja's request in lines 17-19 to the future kings to protect the grant. After seven imprecatory verses, some of which are not usually met with, the document is said in lines 27-28 to have been written by Rajaputra Dēva and engraved by Dron&ka, son of the goldsmith Isvara. The date of the charter, quoted at the end of the record in liaes 28-30, has been already discussed.
The inscription under 1eview is interesting in that Samanta Indrarāja and his father are known for the first time from it. Unfortunately we have no clue to determine the dynasty to which they belonged. Indraraja was a Sämanta, i.e. a feudatory ruler. But there is no mention of his overlord. The issue of the charter, dated apparently in his own regnal reckoning, without any reference to the overlord, suggests that Indrarāja was a semi-independent chief, although
*Cf. spämināya in the Umachal rock inscription (above, Vol. XXXI, p. 67). *Cf. räjänaid in one of the Pandukovar plates (ibid., p. 209.)
