Indian Antiquary Vol 47

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 60

56
THE INDIAX ANTIQUARY
[FEBRUARY, 1918
(9)
Dipista and Dipi of Asoka's Inscriptions. Prof. Hultzsch has corrected the old readings dipista, dipalpitam, dipapito of Shahbazgarhi. He found that di is really ni in each case, and he derived nipista from nishpishta 'ground' (JR48., 1913, 653-54). Later on he inclined to connect it with the Persian navistan, 'to write' (JRAS., 1914, 97 ).
The Artha astra saves us from the necessity of going to Persia for the derivation of nipista. In view of the explanation of nivi offered above, it may be said with confidence that nipi in ni pista stands for nivi, and that nipista stands for nivi-stha or nivishta 21 Nipista would thus mean reduced into document' or recordeu
If we compare this with the direction in the Arthasastra as to what matters were to be entered into nibandha-pustaka "Tygr RIFTO" (p. 62), we might get some additional light. Certain facts-e.g., laws and customs (174-62 ter-afty-F i), treaties, subsidies allowed to foreign kings ( PIETAT -Trata--were to be recorded (Paru-aniei
e) in certain registers kept within wooden boards at the department of the Royal Archives A. Likewise Asoka here is leaving certain directions to his sons and grandsons, and for them he is putting them on record (nivi-stha). The original niví must have been kept at the Imperial Akshapatala enclosed and tied within wooden boards.
As dipi' has to be read as nipi so probably dhrama-dipi also has to be read now as dhrama-nivi. Dhrama-nivi would mean "the Despatch (or Document') relating to the Dharma.' This accords with the sense of dharma-lipi of the Girnar and other editions. Lipi there, as already pointed out by me, means a 'despatch' and not an edict'.22
NOTES AND QUERIES. NOTES FROM OLD FACTORY RECORDS. employ your Shipp, She being newly and well fitted
on this Voyage for the buying of Slaves att Malla 10. Slaves from Madagascar for the Company's
gascar, to which purpose we have laden and conSettlement at Sumatra.
signed to you for the Right Honble. Company [] 17 October 1689. Letter from Elihu Yale and
account propper and Suflitient Stock and Cargoes Council at Fort St. George to Benjamin Bloom and
which we refer to your care and management Council al Bencoolen. Your importunenate desiers
hopeing you will answer our orders and of a Supply of Cofferyes [ ka fri, caffree, native of
expectations therein, but haveing noe Settlement S. Africa) to carry and serve your fortification has
or People there to Recommend you to, we must Perswaded us to send the Pearle Friggot to Malla
leave the more to your discretions ... 80 can gascar for the procury of them and to proceed
give you no more then & Generall advice to from thence directly to you, which we hope She
de port your Selves and negotiate your businogs will be Successfull in and pray send us a Particular
with care, caution and prudence, that you may account of whatt and how many you receive by
nither fall into Surprize by the Natives, or give them...
them any just occation of ofence by your Carriage (October 1689]. Commission and Instructions to and dealeing with them; and the ladeing being to Mr. Watson and Capt. James Perriman for
cheifly in Cofferyes we would have you buy so their Voyage to Maddagascarr, &ca. Upon the
many of them as your Shipp is able to carry Pearle Friggott.
with Conveniency and Safety ... Records of The Cheif &ca. att Bencoolen adviseing us the Fort St. George, Letters from Fort St. George, 1689, creat want of Cofferyes for the Rt. Honble. pp. 53, 58. Company[s] Service there, we have thought fitt to
R. C. T. #Compare the change of fha or tha into ta in tistati ( = tishthantah ) in the same Rock (IV), Shahbazgarhi.
Supra 51, .