________________
JUNE, 1997.]
was especially suggested by the dates of the Chaulakyas of Anhilvid,20 with whom we know the Yadavas of Dêvagiri, in whose dates we first find the name Sâlivâhana, to have been in close
contact.
DATES OF THE SAKA ERA IN INSCRIPTIONS.
151
In addition to these standing phrases, which are used in about 200 out of 300 dates, we have a variety of other expressions which are employed more rarely. Those of them that occur chiefly in prose may be grouped under the heads of Saka-nripati (or Sukanṛipa )-samvatsara, the simple Saké, and Saka-samvat.
Sakanṛipati-samvatsara, 'years of the Saka king (or kings),' we have in the Western Chalukya date No. 17 of S. 534, Sakanṛipati-samvatsara-satéshu .. atitéshu; and SakaRripa-samvatsara in No. 49 of S. 735 and No. 90 of S. 904, Sakanṛipa-samvatsaréshu eyatitéshu or gatéshu, and in No. 214 of S. 1117, where (against the rules of grammar) the text has Sakanṛipa-samvatsaram-árabhya.30 Instead of samvatsara the (poetical) word abda is used in No. 227 of S. 1141, where we have Saka-nṛipatér-atitá abdáḥ (as well as in the spurious Western Chalukya date No. 10 of S. 411, which has Nakanṛip-ábdéshu ⚫ vyatitéshu).
Sakê we find first, in verse, in the date No. 25 of S. 5981 from Cambodia, and afterwards in the prose dates No, 190 of S. 1096, No. 263 of S. 1193, and No. 372 of S. 1570; and, with jaté, in No. 298 of 'S. 1313. Instead of it, we have Saka in Nos. 237 and 238 of S. 1157 and .1158, and (in a compound and in verse) in No. 317 of S. 1355; and Saku in No. 243 of S. 1162, No. 253 of 'S. 1182, No. 254 of S. 1183, No. 276 of S. 1222, and No. 277 of S. 1227 (here written Saku). Since, with the exception of No. 238, ért-Saka 1158 varshé, and No. 253, kri-Saku 1182 varshé, none of these dates contains any separate word for year, Saké, as well as Saka and Saku, can only be translated by in the Saka year.'
Saka-samvat, 'in the Saka year,' occurs rarely, and is apparently foreign to the south of India.33 We find it in the dates Nos. 67 and 68 of S. 832 and 836, which are both from Gujarat; in No. 56 of S. 982 (not 782), from an inscription of the Silaras of the Northern Konkan; and in Nos. 126 and 166 of S. 991 and 1063 (for 1064), two dates of the Yadavas of Sêunadêsa. It is also used, when the date is repeated in figures, in the date No. 174 of S. 1078 of the Silâra Mallikarjuna. Instead of it, we have Saka-samhvatu in the date No. 201 of S. 1109 of the Silara Aparâditya, and perhaps also in the date of the same king No. 199 of S. 1107. The fuller expression Saka-samvatsara would seem to occur only in the date No. 246 of S. 1171 of the Devagiri-Yadava Krishna.
The expressions which remain occur almost exclusively in verse. The most common of them, in the order in which they appear first, are Sak-abdé, Saké, Sak-ábdé, and Saka-vatsaré.
Sak-abde, in the year of the Saka (or Sakas),' we find, everywhere in verse, in the dates No. 19 of S. 548 from Cambodia, No. 152 of S. 1045, No. 161 of S. 1059, No. 399 of 'S. 1315, and No. 300 of 'S. 1317. In verse we also have Sakasy-ábdé in No. 310 of S. 1346, Sakábdabháji samaye in No. 280 of S. 1236, and Sak-abdéshu gateshu in No. 376 of S. 1601; and in prose, Sak-abdéshvatitéshu in No. 245 of S. 1171, and Salsa)kam-á(a)bda in No. 97 of S. 928.
Sake, in the Saka year,' occurs, in verse, in the dates No. 20 of S. 550 from Cambodia, No. 116 of S. 972, No. 156 of S. 1050, No. 192 of S. 1099, No. 234 of S. 1153, No. 294 of S. 1301, No. 306 of S. 1332, No. 319 of S. 1377, No. 333 of S. 1450, and No. 341 of S. 1461; and, in prose, in No. 219 of S. 1128 ( for 1129), and No. 226 of S. 1156. With the exception of the date No. 306 which has varshé, none of these dates contains a separate word for 'year.'
29 Seo ante, Vol. XX. p. 405.
zo The meaning is the same as that of Saka-varshad-drabhya, given above.
31 This date shews that Sake is by no means a late expression; the same applies to the term Bike which will be given below.
52 The corresponding phrase Vikrama-saivat occurs in nine Chaulukya inscriptions. European scholars now generally speak of the Saka years as Saka-sahvat, a practice which I have followed myself; but there can be no doubt that Saka-varsha would be a more suitable expression.
