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378
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
The boundaries from the east to the north-east have thus been completed.
II. Sámányoyam dharma setúrnrupánám. Kále kúle pálaníyó bhavadbhihi. Sarváñétán bhávinaha párthivéndrán. Bhuyó bhúyó yáchaté Rámachendraha. Rámachandra again and again entreats all future great kings This (grant) which is a bridge of charity common to rulers should from time to time be protected by you.
III. Dánapálanayor madhyé.
Dánáchhreyonu pálanam. Dánát svarga mavápnótí. Pálanádachyutum padam.
Between giving and saving (of charities,) it is inore meritorious to save than to give. By giving (the donor) attains svargam, or Indra's paradise, but by saving, everlasting position (bliss) is attained. IV.
Madvamsajáha paramahípati vamsajává. Yé bhúmipás satata mujvala dharma chittáhá. Maddharma méva paripálana mácharanti Tatpádapadma yúgalam sirasá namámi.
I salute with my head the lotus-like feet of those rulers, whether descendants of my own race or of other dynasties, who always with a conspicuous love of virtue, uphold and confirm my charity.
Note by the Translator.
The first sloka is an invocation used by most grantors of ináms, because in the third incarnation, Vishnu is supposed to have restored the earth from the grasp of Hiranyaksha, a demon who had usurped, and carried it away.
The year is denoted by the letters ka, ta, ka, which are the first letters of two different sets of letters in the alphabet. It is usual to read the figures thus expressed from right to left. In this case, the era is not mentioned. . .
The characters in which the grant is embodied are called by the I: ámdars the "Nandi Nágaru." But they resemble the modern "Bálaband" more than any other. The language is a mixture of Sanskrit and Kanarese, the former disfigured by a great many inaccuracies, whose existence cannot be accounted for except under the supposition, not improbable, that the engraver was ignorant of Sanskrit, and the original composer of the grant did not revise his work.
The grant is engrossed on three sheets of copper, the edges of two of which are broken, clasped by a solid ring of the same metal which is stamped with a seal bearing the inscription of a boar.
In translating the s'lokas which are written at the commencement and termination of the grant, the grammatical mistakes found in the original have been rectified.
V. N. NARASIMMIYENGAR.
[DEC. 6, 1872.
III. TRANSLATION OF A BALABAND COPPER GRANT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE BHIMANAKATTE MATHA, KAVALEDURGA TALUKA.
Prostrations to Ganapati, Remover of Obstacles. I.-Pántu vó jalada shyamaha,
Shárgna jyá gháta karkasháha. Trailókya mantapa stambháha, Chatváró hari báhavaha.
May the four arms of Hari (Vishnu), which are as dark as the water-laden clouds, which are hardened by the scars caused by the blow of the string of the Shargna bow, and which are as the foundation pillars of the Mantapa of the three worlds, save ye.
In the year Plavanga, in the 89th year of the era of Yudhishthira, in the month of Pushya, on newmoonday, on Wednesday, King Janaméjaya, the arbiter of the Mahárájas, the master of the rájas, the possessor of the valour of heroes, the descendant of the race of Kuru, who is seated on the throne of the city of Kishkindha, the protector of all professions and castes, made this grant for the púje of Sítárám, worshipped by Kaivalyanátha, disciple of Garudaváhanatirtha Srípáda, of the Munibrinda Matha, in Vrikódara (Bhíma) Kshétra, situated in the western town of Sítápura. The boundaries of the Munibrinda Kshetra, in which my great grandfather Yudhishthira remained are,
On the East-Western bank of the Tungabhadra, flowing towards the north. On the South.-North of the confluence near Agastya Ashrama. On the West.-East of the Bána Nadi. On the North South of the Khúma Nadi.
Munibrindakshetra, situated within these boundaries, is granted by me, with offerings of the Tungabhadra water and money, in the presence of Harihara, on the occasion of an eclipse, into the hands of the yati or sanyasi, with my free consent,. in view to obtaining Vishnu's heaven for my parents, to be enjoyed by you and the line of your disciples, as long as the sun and the moon last, inclusive of the items of hidden wealth, treasuretrove, water, trees, minerals, future acquisitions and improvements, &c.
The witnesses of this deed of charity areII.-Aditya chandravaniló nalascha,
Dyur bhúmirápó hridayam Yamascha. Ahascha rátrischa ubhécha sandye. Dhármascha jánáti narasya vrittam.
A man's conduct and actions are known to the sun, moon, air, fire, firmament, earth, water, heart, Yama, day, night, morning, evening, and duty. III.-Dánapálanayór madhye.
Dana chchréyónu pálanam. Dánátsvárgámávápnóti. Pálánádachchyutam pudam.
Between giving and protesting, it is more meritorious to protect. By giving (the donor) attains svarga, but by protecting, immortal station (Heaven) is attained.
