________________
NOVEMBER, 1888.)
GHOSRAWA BUDDHIST INSCRIPTION.
307
analysis. In this passage, the king boasts of scarcely remark that we should read hótúti, having established many ápánas, inns or cara- the ti having been erroneously engraved twice. vanserais, and ápana can be taken as a word 5. With regard to kachhati being equivalent in itself. At the same time, one does not to karishyati, cf. Vol. I. p. 123 of the original see exactly why the king should mention only essays. this class of benefactions. The former con
TRANSLATION. struction has this advantage, that it implies Thus saith king Piyadasi, dear unto the many others, as we should expect from the Dêvas :--The Religion is excellent. But, it will use of the phrase vividhé anugahe. For the be asked, what is this Religion? (It consists meaning of dakhina, which we propose here, we in committing) the least possible ill ; [in doing] may perhaps compare arogadachhinaê bhavatu, much good, [in practising] mercy, charity, of the third line of the Wardak inscription truth, and also purity of life. Also have I (J.R.A.S., XX., 261ff); this, at least, is the given alms of every kind; amongst men and reading proposed by Dowson. Unfortunately, four-footed beasts, birds and inhabitants of the the interpretation, and even the deciphering of water have I performed varied benefits, even 60 this monument are too imperfect and too hypo- far as securing them drinking water; many other thetical, for the comparison to have much meritorious actions have I also done. It is for weight.
this purpose that I have had this edict engraved, 4. With regard to the spelling 'thitikd of in order that men may follow it and walk in several versions, compare the analogous ortho- The Good Way, and in order that it may long graphies which I have collected in Buddhist remain in existence. He, who will thus act, Sanskrit, o. g. Mahávastu I., p. 595. I need will do that which is good.
A BUDDHIST STONE-INSCRIPTION FROM GHOSRAWA.
BY PROF. F. KIELHORN, C.I.E.; GÖTTINGEN. This inscription was discovered in March given as either Ghosrawd'or Ghosrdwan. 1848, by Captain M. Kittoe, in a mound from According to information which I owe to which the people were then digging bricks, Mr. E. H. Walsh and to Mr. Grierson, the at a village about 7 miles south-east of the town name of the place, in all the village-papers etc., of Bihar, in the Patna district of the Province is written TERT , but it is invariably proof Bengal; and it was first edited, with an English translation by Dr. Ballantyne, remarks
nounced secret, i.e. Ghosravam by Captain Kittoe himself, and a note by Mr.
The importance of the inscription for the J. W. Laidlay, in the Journ. Beng. As. Soc.,
later history of Indian Buddhism was fully Vol. XVII. Part I., pp. 492-501. The exact
recognised by Captain Kittoe, who assigned it spelling of the name of the village where the
to the 9th or 10th century A.D.; and Mr. inscription was found, has been somewhat diffi
Laidlay rightly identified some of the places cult to make out with certainty. In Captain
which are mentioned in the inscription. CapKittoo's remarks, l. 6. p. 495, the place is called
tain Kittoe removed the slab on which the Possorawa,' but this must be an error. For,
inscription is, to Bihar, where he took facin the Hindi heading of the Sanskpit text, p.
similes, and returned it afterwards to the village, 492, we have Gusarana,' and in Mr. Laid.
where he had it fixed in a niche in the outer lay's note, p. 500, Gusserawa' instead ; and
wall of a modern temple, having first engraved in the volumes of the Archæol. Survey of India
in English on the margin the date of its being and in Sir A. Cunningham's Ancient Geo
recovered and set up (by Captain Kittoo) for graphy of India, Vol, L., p. 44, as well as in &
preservation on account of Government." paper by Mr. A. M. Broadley, which will be Afterwards, the inscription was prominently mentioned below, the name of the village is referred to by Sir A. Cunningham, in his Reports
1 According to Sir A. Cunningham, Archaol. Survey tho margin:"Recovered and placed here by Captain of India, Vol. XI. p. 172, the slab was still at Ghosrawi M. Kittoe on part of Government, March 30, A.D. in January 1862, with the following words engraved on 1818."
