Indian Antiquary Vol 60

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 235

NOVEMBER, 1931 ]
CORRESPONDENCE
207
As already observed, however, the wording of the above-cited two inscriptions of Somesvara's reign makes it doubtful if the term astabhoga-téjassvdmya had the above signification in his time. This doubt is but strengthened by the fact (noticed above) that the writers of the fifteenth century A.D. and later do not themselves know definitely the meaning of the term, but use it in a manner which plainly suggests that it formed part of a formula which had been in use from a long time. And hence I consider it improbable that the group of eight things whose possession or enjoyment was granted by the Rummindei inscription was identical with the above-mentioned group of eight formed of nidhi, niksepa, etc.
The Kamandak yaniliedra, written before 550 A.D. (see Asia Major, III, p. 320, n.), contains the following two verses (V, 77-78); korpir vanikpatho durgam setub kufujana-bandhanam khanyakara-vanadanam súnyánám ca niveśanam asta-vargam imam raja addhu-vitto 'nuplayet in which the king is enjoined to give protection to the aştavarga or group of eight formed of krpi, vanik-patha, durga, setu, kuñjara-bandhana, khanyákaradana, vanádana and búnya-nivesana. These words signify primarily agriculture, trade-way, fortress, dam, catching of elephants, working of mines and of forests, and settling of unoccupied places.' But Dr. Breloer has pointed out (Kautaliya-studien, I, p. 80) that this group of eight' is referred to in the Arthasastra, $ 90,8 which speaks of revenue derived from them; and hence it seems probable. that astavarga has the secondary meaning of 'income derived from the group of eight consisting of agricultural lands, trade-ways, etc.
This group of eight' is referred to in Manu, 7, 154 also (krienam cdstavidham karma pañcavargam ca tattvatah) according to Medhatithi, whose explanation of astavidham karma as vanik-patha udaka-setu-bandhanam durgakaranam klasya samakdra-nirnayah hasti-bandhanan Khani-khananam sunya nivesanam daru-vana-cchedanam ca is cited by Kullaka in the course of his commentary on that verse.
Thus it is very likely that this group of eight things was known as such to the administrators in Mauryan times, and it is even possible that the word aşta in atha-bhágiye refers to this group of eight or to one containing many of its components. At present, however, there is nothing known about such matters; and we can only translate atha-bhágiye as possessor or enjoyer of the eight things' without being in position to explain definitely what the eight things are that the grantor had in his mind.
CORRESPONDENCE. The Angarika Dharmapala, Fannder and General Secretary of the Mahabodhi Society, writes to us that the Malagandhakuti Vihêrs at Sarnath, near Benares, is at last complete, except for the fresco work in the interior, which will be taken in hand as soon as possible, and an image of the Buddha in the preaching attitude, which is being made at the School of Art, Jaipur. He adds that, at the suggestion of the Archeological Department of the Government of India, the opening ceremony and the enshrinement of the sacred relio have been fixed to take place during the current month, and he invites Buddhists of all countries to participate.
1 According to some insoription, asabhoga comprises widhi, mikpepa, jaka, toru (trove growing on the land), pdpdxa, akini, niddha and addhya. Kittel in his dictionary gives the components of asrabhoga 80 nidhi, nikaopa, akplni, dodmi, amcita, jala, lan and pdedna.
. (Mysore edition, 1909, p. 240) janapadam mahantam alpa-pramdnam od devo-matrkam prabhdtadhanyam didnyaoydmdan trikyam caturtham ud yaceto yathedram madhyam avaram vd durga-setukarmavanikpatha-kanyaninda-khansdravya-hastivana-karmopakarinam
• Arihaldstra, p. 59 ff., enumerates the different items which are comprised in each component of this group of sight and which yield income.