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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXXIV
father of Rashtrakuta Parabala of the Pathari (near Bhilsa in East Malwa) inscription1 of 861 A.D. But this is unlikely since it is doubtful that the father ruled at a date about three quarters of a century before that of the son's record. Moreover, Karka's rule in the Kaira-Ahmedabad region in 788 A.D., for which there is no evidence at all, can scarcely be regarded as reconcilable with the imperial Rashtrakuta hold on Central and Southern Gujarat during the period in question any more than that of Kakka of the Antroli-Charoli plates. There is again no proof that Karka of the Pathari inscription was an imperial (or semi-independent) ruler.
As regards the Gujarat Rashtrakuta house represented by Kakka II of the Antroli-Charoli plates of 757 A.D., it is very probable that he himself or his father or grandfather was stationed in Gujarat as the viceroy of the Rashtrakuta emperor Dantidurga (742-56 A.D.) and that Kakka II assumed semi-independence on Dantidurga's death as his imperial style coupled with the feudatory title Samadhigatapañchamahaśabda in his record of 757 A.D. would indicate. Altekar seems to be right when he suggests that the relative whom the Rashtrakuta emperor Krishna I (756-75 A.D.) claims to have ousted was no other than Kakka II of the Antroli-Charoli plates. Another fact ignored by Dr. Sankalia is that the said Gujarat Rashtrakutas appear to have continued in their viceregal position till the reign of Govinda III (794-814 A.D.) who appointed his younger brother Indra as his viceroy in Gujarat. It is therefore very probable that Kakka of the Hilol plates is either identical with his namesake of the Antroli-Charoli plates or was a descendant of the latter.
Dr. Sankalia draws our attention to the mention of many Samanta Brahmanas among the witnesses of the gift and suggests that it points to the prevalence of a strong well-organised Brahmana feudalism in tenth century Gujarat. But the word samanta in this context apparently means a neighbour', i.e. one who was in possession of a piece of land in the neighbourhood of the gift land.
Our reading and interpretation of the text of the inscription are offered below.
Lines 1-6: Siddham [*] sarhvatsara-sata-chatushtaye saptaty-adhike ari-Khotakamahabhistha(shṭhā)nä[t*]
samadhigata(ta)-pashehamahāiavda(bda)-mahāsāmatādhipatiparamarkjadhiraja-paraméévara-ári-Kakka(kk) rjyal sati] vishay-adhipati[n] árl samadhigata (ta)-pamchamahāśabda-mahāsāmamta-sriCharhdrädityana Sagarh(narh)da-ethina-vininggata-Mattriivara-pattrasya(ttriya) bhattaMatrigaga(paya) Kasyapa-sagöttra(tträya) madhyandina(naya) shadahgs-vedais-cha vibha shit-amga(gaya) vābā)l-âgnihotriya(trip) tach(ta)[n-nishtha-parama(mays) tad-gupasamyuktasya(ktaya) [dattam sasanam [*]
Translation: Let it be well! In the year 470, when the illustrious Samadhigatapanchamahāsabda Mahāsāmantādhipati Paramaräjädhiraja Paramesvara Kakka [is ruling] the kingdom from the prosperous great city of Khotaka, [this charter is issued] from the prosperous great city of Harshapura by the illustrious Vishayadhipati Samadhigatapanchamaha sabda Mahasamanta Chandraditya in favour of Bhatta Mätrigana who is the son of Matriévara hailing from
Harshapura(ra)-mahaabhisthānā
1 Above, Vol. IX, pp. 248 ff. Parabala's father is stated to have defeated Nagavaloka who is usually identified with the Gurjara-Pratthära king Nagabhata II (o. 810-38 A.D.). He may have been a later contemporary of Nigabhata II.
The Rashtrakutas and their Times, pp. 42-43.
Bomb. Gaz., Vol. I, Part ii, pp. 392-98.
Cf. Yajnavalkyasmriti, II, 150 and Vijäänéévara's commentary thereon. See also above, Vol. XXXIUI,
p. 194.
*Expressed by symbol. Read mahabhishthänāt. 'Better read tat-tad.
