________________
MAY, 1885.1
SARNATH INSCRIPTION OF MAHIPALA.
139
TRANSLATION. During the reign of the Sugas (Sungas), (this) gateway was erected, and the masonry finished by Vâchhi-puta (Vatsi-putra)
Dhana bhati, the son of Goti-puta (Gauptiputra) A garaju" (anul) grandson of king Gagi-puta (Gargi-putra) Visa de va (Visvadeva).
dint elinde TAI KAUNTIELY A 8642101 XL+FA..
1 9xdlt+ع
Scale .34
THE SARNATH INSCRIPTION OF MAHIPALA,
BY E. HULTZSCH, PH. D.; VIENNA. When, in January A.D. 1794, the workmen consisting of seven panels which are separated of Babu Jagatsimh, Diwan of the Raja of by six pillars. The central panel contains the Benares, were digging for old stones at Dharmachakra; the third and fifth an antelope ; Sarnath, they found a stone containing the the second and sixth a tiger; the first and subjoined inscription, a rough transcript of seventh a kneeling male figure, which supports which was first pablished by Mr. Jonathan the stone above it with its hands, like the Duncan. The stone was then removed to the giants in front of Cave III. at Nasik." "Below Jagatganj, a market-place built at Benares by the band of sculpture, the usual Buddhist Jagatsinh; but it was rediscovered by Major creed (B) is engraved. Kittoe at the suggestion of General Cunning- The inscription records that, in Samvat 1083, ham, who published an imperfect translation a Buddhist Stapa and a Dharmachakra were made by a student of the Benares College, repaired, and a new Gandhaluti was built by the and, later on, the text of a transcript received two brothers Sthirapala and Vasantapala, who from Kittoe.' I edit the inscription from the were probably the sons of Mahipala, king of original stone, which is now preserved at the Gau da, who is mentioned in the first stanza of Queen's College, Benares.
the inscription. The Gurava-Sri-Vâmarasi, to On the top of the stone there was originally whom king Mahipala is said to have paid his a squatting figure of Buddha, which is now respects, must have descended from the line of broken off above the hips. The historical part hereditary spiritual guides of the Påla kings, of the inscription (A) is engraved below the which is recorded on the Buddal Pillar. This statue. Then follows a band of sculpture, supposition is strengthened by the fact that
Literally, "anat nd of the stone-work arose."- geet itself to ine Dr. Rajendrall Mitra 1 roceedings of the Bengal Asia- Asiatic Reserrches, Vol. V. p. 133. tic Society 1880, p. 54, reads Rilakaihmato: but the Archaol. Suru. Ind. Vol. fil. p. 121, and Vol. XI. Beoond anusvara of silakavimaihto is quite distinct on
I p. 182. the stone.
3 See Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji's Pandu Léna Caves, • The Sanskrit equivalent of this name doos not sug. p. 5.
