Indian Antiquary Vol 07

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 311

OCTOBER, 1878.]
THE INSCRIPTION OF RUDRADAMAN AT JUNAGADH.
257
Translation.
Translation. This pillar is the benefaction of the gardener
This cave is the benefaction of Naga, leader Mugu pålita.
of a caravan.
Inscription No. 12 in Cave XIX. Inscription No. 11 on back wall of the Verandah Sethiņo Vasu paņa ka of Cave XVIII.
sa deya dhammam lêņa. .......ņo sathavahasa Nagasa lenam
Sanskrit of No. 12. deyadhammam. Sreshthino Vas up a na ka-sya deyadharmo Sanskrit of No. 11.
layanam 11
Translation of No. 12. ...... no sârthavahasya Nagasy a This cave is the benefaction of the merchant
layanam deyadharmaḥ | Vasupaņaka.
THE INSCRIPTION OF RUDRADÂMAN AT JUNAGADH.
BY BHAGAVÅNLÅL INDRAJI PANDIT AND Dr. G. BÜHLER. From the following inscription it appears that come from the surrounding hills, carry abundant an artificial lake, called Sudarsana, was sit- water into it. The valley looks as if were uated at the foot of the Girnar. It had first been destined by nature to be made a taldo. All dug by the brother-in-law of the Maurya king that is required to convert it into an enorChandragupta, a Vaiśya called Pushya- mous reservoir is to close up its mouth on the gupta, and had been adorned with outlets by west by an embankment. In favour of the idenTush â spa, the Yavana governor of Asoka. | tification of this valley speak the resemblance of In the seventy-second year of Rudra då man's the modern name of one of the rivers, Sonâ rereign, on the first day of the dark half of Mârga- kha, to the Suvarnasika tå of our inscripsirsha, a heavy storm, attended by a copious rain- tion, and the fact that the foundations of an fall, happened, quite out of season, and so much ancient wall or embankment are still extant on increased the force of the current of the rivers the side of the hills in the narrow opening of which flowed through the lake that it destroyed the valley, a little above the so-called Då moa great portion of the embankment which dar Kunda, and opposite the sanctuary of enclosed the latter. The water of the lake ran the Musalman fakir Jar â sâ. These founoff, and its loss no doubt caused great incon- dations I believe to be a remnant of the old venience to the inhabitants of Junagadh. A embankment. little later the dyke was repaired by the Pah- The inscription states that the dyko was lava Suvisakha, who, as Rudra då man's destroyed in the seventy-second year of RuCovernor of Sorath and Anarts. resided | drad Aman. But it seems altogether improat Junagadh
bable that Rudrad â man should have reignNo tradition even of the former existence of ed for so long a time, and it is still less probable the Sudarśana lake survives in Junagadh. But that he should have had a still longer reign, as it seems to me that it must have been situated the fact that the inscription was written after to the east of the Girnar hill, on the site which is the completion of the long and difficult work of now called 'Bhavanatha's pass' (bhavanáthnuir restoration would force us to assume. It seems nákun).
therefore necessary to assume, as has been done This narrow valley or ravine extends in length by the former translators of the inscription, that from east to west a little more than a mile, and the figure seventy-two refers not to the years of is about as broad. On three sides it is enclosed Rudradâman's reign, but to the era used on the by high hills, and on the fourth, towards the Kshatrapa coing. This explanation is confirmed west, a narrow passage leads from it to the by the fact that the coins of Rudra då man's town. Two small perennial rivers, one of which son, Rudrasinha, are dated between the is called Sonå rekha, flow through it; and in years 102 and 117 of the same era. The same the rainy season numerous other brooks, which circumstance indicates also that Rudradâman's
As the text calls Tushåspa te(na), 'that'--.e. 'the more than a mere official. Perhaps he was the Samanta or celebrated'-Yavanarkja, it is not improbable that he was feudal lord of Sorath.