________________
The Inscription
Translation On the basis of the above reading and proposed restorations it should be rendered into English as follows.* The restorations have been shown within ( ) and the explanatories within ( ).
"Obeisance to the Arahamtas! Obeisance to all the Siddhas!!
By the Hon'ble King, Mahāmeghavāhana, His Majesty Khāravela, the Lord of Kalinga, the Increaser of Ceti Royal House, (the Owner of) glorifying auspicious marks, (and) the Possessor of virtues (the fame of which has) reached the farthest limits of the four quarters, were played for fifteen years, with a
Jayaswal and Banerji (E.I., XX, pp. 86-89) and Barua (I.H.Q., XIV, 3, pp. 470—82) give different renderings. Below, J stands for
Jayaswal & Banerji, and B for Barua. J - Ll Salutation to the Arhats (Arihats lit. 'Conquerors of Enemies', i.e., Jinas).
Salutation to all the Siddhas. By illustrious Khāravela, the Aira (Aila), the Great King, the descendant of Mahāmeghavāhana, the increaser (of the glory) of the Ceti (Cēdi) dynasty, (endowed) with excellent and auspicious marks and features, possessed of virtues which have reached
(the ends of) four quarters, overlord of Kalinga, L2 for fifteen years, with a body ruddy and handsome were played youthsome
sports; after that (by him who) had mastered (royal) correspondence, currency, finance, civil and religious laws (and) who had become wellversed in all (branches of learning, for nine years (the office of) Yuvarāja (heir-apparent) was administered. Having completed the twenty-fourth
B
"Obeisance to Arhats, the Exalted Ones, obeisance to all Siddhas, the Perfect Saints. By His Graceful Majesty Khāravela, the great Aira king, the Sovereign lord of Kalinga, the scion of the Mahāmegha family, the increaser of the
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