Nimgachi Stone Slab of Pāhila

Editors: Ryosuke Furui, Arlo Griffiths.

Identifier: DHARMA_INSBengalCharters00044.

Hand description:

Language: Sanskrit.

Repository: Bengal Copper Plates (tfb-bengalcharters-epigraphy).

Version: (b3cb286), last modified (a106b27).

Edition

⟨1⟩ @Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsud[e]vāya||

I. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

bhakti-prahva-viriñci-śaṅkara-surādhīśādi-nākaukasāṁ{|}

a

cūḍā-ratna-marīci-cumvi-caraṇāmbho-jas tri-lokī⟨2⟩śvaraḥ|

b

gandharvvāpsarasāṁ gaṇaiḥ kr̥ta-nutiḥ saṁravdha-saṁgītakaiḥ{|}

c

śaśvad yacchatu maṅgalāni bhavate lakṣmī-sanātho hariḥ||

d
II. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

cakraṁ kvāsya gadā kva cāsir ama⟨3⟩laḥ śārṅgaṁ kva carmmeṣavo

a

hantā kena raṇe hiraṇyakaśipor astreṇa cittraṁ mahaT|

b

Itthaṁ vyākula-cetasāṁ na marutām udyanti yāvad giras

c

tāvat tīkṣṇa-nakhāgra-bhinna-da⟨4⟩nujaḥ kaṁsārir anyotsavaḥ||

d
III. Vasantatilakā

yasyāḥ surāsura-naroraga-rājya-lābhāt·{|}

a

saṁpattayo vahu-vidhā jagati prasādāT|

b

sā kaiṭabhāri-hr̥daya-sthala-vāsinī śrīḥ

c

ka⟨5⟩lyāṇam āvahatu vo jagad-eka-vandyā¿|?⟨||⟩

d
IV. Vaṁśastha

sarasvatī-saṁbhava-pāvanīkr̥te

a

śriyānvite bhaṭṭalanāmni maṇḍale|

b

dvijāti-veda-dhvani-yajña-karmmabhir

c

nnirasta-sa⟨6⟩rppat-kali-kāla-kalmaṣe||

d
V. Vasantatilakā

tattrādhipaḥ samabhavaj jagad-ekavīraḥ

a

śrī-pañcabhūtir iti viśruta-nāma-dheyaḥ|

b

Adyāpi saṅgara-kathāsu sadaiva yasya

c

rekhāḥ pr̥thor i⟨7⟩va vudhāḥ prathamaṁ likhanti||

d
VI. Indravaṁśā

tasyānvaye bhaṭṭaladeśa-nāyakaḥ

a

śrī-karkkarājaḥ prathito mahāvalaḥ|

b

Āsīd yaśovarmma-nr̥paika-vallabho

c

mittra-dvija-jñāti-suhr̥t-sa⟨8⟩māśrayaḥ||

d
VII. Anuṣṭubh

karppūrasyātibhogena

a

pradānenātiyogataḥ|

b

yasya cakre janair nnāma

c

karppūra Iti cāparaṁ||

d
VIII. Vasantatilakā

tasmād ajāyata jagat-spr̥haṇīya-karmmā

a

śrīmān u⟨9⟩dāra-caritaḥ śivarudra-nāmā|

b

śliṣṭaṁ śriyā yam abhivī(kṣya) śaśāṅk¿ā?⟨a⟩-śubhrā

c

pāra⟨ṅga⟩tā jalanidheḥ kupiteva kīrttiḥ||

d
IX. Sragdharā

(bh)ottebhaṭṭārikāyām asadr̥śa-mahimā ⟨10⟩ tasya p¿la?⟨u⟩tro vabhūva

a

śūraḥ śrī-pāhilākhyaḥ sakala-guṇa-gaṇa-khyāta-kīrttir mmanasvī|

b

yasmin rājyaṁ nidhāyākhila-viṣaya-sukhaṁ sevate tyakta-cinto

c

devaḥ śrī⟨11⟩-devapālaḥ sa-mada-ripu-vala-strī-vilāsāpanodaḥ||

d
X. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

bhakto deva-guru-dvijātiṣu sadā snigdhaḥ suhr̥n-mitrayor

a

bhogī sarvva-janopabhogya-vibhavo namraḥ ⟨12⟩ pratāpotkaṭaḥ|

b

gāmbhīryasya nidhānam apratihataṁ dhairyasya cāmbho-nidhir

c

yasyoddāma-yaśo-vitāna-pihitaṁ jātaṁ nabhaḥ pāṇḍaraṁ*||

d
XI. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

tenāsmin kali-kā⟨13⟩la-kalmaṣa-muṣā kīrttiṁ sthirāṁ ta¿t?⟨n⟩vatā

a

lakṣmī-nātha-samarppitācala-dhiyā tad-bhaktimadbhyaḥ sadā|

b

sampaj-jīvita-yauvanāni capalāny ālocya dharmmaṁ ⟨14⟩ sthiraṁ

c

dattaḥ pravrajitebhya Eṣa vivudha-sthānānukārī maṭhaḥ||

d
XII. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

yāvac candra-kalā vibhāti giriśe yāvat prabhā bhāskare

a

lakṣmīr yāvad adhokṣajasya va⟨15⟩sati premālasā vakṣasi|

b

nakṣatra-graha-cakravāla-vimalaṁ* yāvan nabho rājate

c

tāvat kīrttir ihātano{n}tu vipulā śrī-pāhilasya sthirā||

d
⟨Page 16⟩

Utkīrṇṇaṁ khānikara-dakkadāsena ḥ

Apparatus

⟨1⟩ -prahva- ⬦ -prajña- GB1.

⟨3⟩ cittraṁ ⬦ vittaṁ GB1. — ⟨3⟩ -da⟨Page 4⟩nujaḥ ⬦ -danūjaḥ GB1 • The same of nu does seem a bit unusual. Cf. the shapes at the end of l. 8, and in l. 14.

⟨4⟩ -sthala- ⬦ -sathala- GB1.

⟨5⟩ vo ⬦ yo GB1. — ⟨5⟩ -saṁbhava- ⬦ -sambhava- GB1.

⟨6⟩ tattrādhipaḥ ⬦ tatrādhipaḥ GB1. — ⟨6⟩ -pañcabhūtir ⬦ -pañcahūtir GB1 • In a note to his 1997 edition, the previous editor confidently rejects the possibility of reading pañcabhūtir. However, the akṣara in question looks more like bhū than like hū.

⟨7⟩ mittra- ⬦ mitra- GB1.

⟨8⟩ -spr̥haṇīya- ⬦ -spr̥hanīya- GB1.

⟨9⟩ abhivī(kṣya) • The intended reading is certainly abhivīkṣya, but the last akṣara has not been properly executed. — ⟨9⟩ śaśāṅk¿ā?⟨a⟩-śubhrā ⬦ śaśāṅka GB1. — ⟨9⟩ pāra⟨ṅga⟩tā ⬦ pāram tā GB1. — ⟨9⟩ (bh)otte˚ ⬦ dotte˚ GB1; dyotte GB2.

⟨10⟩ p¿la?⟨u⟩tro ⬦ putro GB1. — ⟨10⟩ mmanasvī ⬦ mahaśvi GB1. — ⟨10⟩ nidhāyākhila- ⬦ bhidhayākhila- GB1.

⟨12⟩ pāṇḍaraṁ* ⬦ pāṇḍāraṁ GB1.

⟨13⟩ -muṣā ⬦ -mr̥ṣā GB1. — ⟨13⟩ ta¿t?⟨n⟩vatā ⬦ vatvatā GB1. — ⟨13⟩ -bhaktimadbhyaḥ ⬦ -bhaktimarghaḥ GB1. — ⟨13⟩ ālocya ⬦ ālokya GB1.

⟨14⟩ ˚kārī ⬦ ˚karī GB1.

⟨15⟩ yāvan ⬦ yāvn GB1. — ⟨15⟩ ihātano{n}tu ⬦ ihātanotu GB1.

Translation by Ryosuke Furui

(1) Success! Oṁ, salutation to Bhagavat Vāsudeva!

I
The master of the three world, whose lotus-like feet are kissed by rays of light from crown jewels of residents of sky (gods) beginning with Viriñci (Brahmā), Śaṅkara and the Lord of Gods (Indra), bowing with devotion, may Hari, who is endowed with Lakṣmī and praised by the group of gandharvas and apsarases singing with excitement, always go to the luck for you!
II
“By which weapon, his disk, mace, spotless sword, bow or shield and arrow, did the slayer of Hiraṇyakaśipu at the battle [made] a great wonder?” As long as such a song of Maruts with agitated mind does not rise, the enemy of Kaṁsa (Kr̥ṣṇa, Viṣṇu), who tore the son of Danu by sharp tips of his claw, would have another celebration.
III
Because of whose favour, the acquisition of kingship of gods, demons, humans and snakes, there are prosperities in manifold ways in this world, may this Śrī, the resident of the chest of the enemy of Kaiṭabha (Viṣṇu) and only one respectable in the world, catch you, the handsome!
IV
In the maṇḍala named Bhaṭṭala, which was cleansed by the union with Sarasvatī, accompanied by Śrī, where the stain of creeping Kali period was expelled by brahmins, sound of vedas and rituals.
V
There, the sole hero of the world with the well-known name as illustrious Pañcabhūti became the lord. Even now, in the narratives of battles, sages always write his delineations first as if these were Pr̥thu’s [delineations].
VI
In his lineage was known the leader of Bhaṭṭala deśa illustrious Karkarāja, with great strength. He was the sole friend of king Yaśovarman and the shelter of friends, brahmins, kinsmen and allies.
VII
Because of the strong connection with excessive enjoyment and donation of camphor, his another name, Karpūra, was made by people.
VIII
From him was born the one with actions desirable in the world and noble deeds named Śivarudra, the illustrious. Seeing him embraced by Śrī, the fame bright as the moon, which reached the other shore of the ocean was as if provoked.
IX
To Bhottebhaṭṭārikā was born his son with unlike greatness, the hero named illustrious Pāhila, having the fame known by the collection of all the virtues and wise. After depositing the kingdom to him, the king illustrious Devapāla, abandoning anxiety, enjoys pleasure of all the territories {objects of senses}, removing beauty of the wives of the excited enemy troops.
X
He is devoted to gods, gurus and brahmins, always affectionate to both ally and friend, enjoying the wealth to be enjoyed by all the people, humble and endowed with valour. He is the indestructible storehouse of generosity, and also the ocean of intelligence. Covered by the heap of his unbound fame, the sky became white.
XI
Here, by him, who destroys stain of Kali age and extends firm fame, and whose unshaken thought is placed on the master of Lakṣmī (Viṣṇu), after reflecting upon that success, life and youth are inconstant and that dharma is stable, this maṭha, which imitates the abode of gods, was given to ascetics who always had devotion to him.
XII
As long as the ray of the moon shines at the master of mountain (Śiva), as long as splendor is in the sun, as long as Lakṣmī, idle in love, dwells on the chest of the one born under the axle (Viṣṇu), as long as clean multitude of constellations and planets shine in the sky, may abundant and stable fame of illustrious Pāhila here expand!

(16) [This is] engraved by engraver Dakkadāsa.

Commentary

Bibliography

First notified by Swapan Kumar Biswas1994, then edited by Gouriwar Bhattacharya1997. Edited again by Gouriswar Bhattacharya1999. Transcribed by Arlo Griffiths based on GB’s 1999 edition, checked against the photographs taken by Ryosuke Furui on 22/7/2017. Revised by Ryosuke Furui from the same set of photographs and the other set taken by Adeline Levevier on 11/11/2019.

Primary

[GB1] Bhattacharya, Gouriswar. 1999. “Bangladesh National Museum Praśasti of Pāhila.” In: Prācyaśikṣāsuhāsinī: seventy-fifth anniversary celebration volume of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture. Edited by Samaresh Bandyopadhyay. Calcutta: Calcutta University Press, pp. 384–390.

[GB2] Bhattacharya, Gouriswar. 1997. “Bangladesh National Museum praśasti of Pāhila (9th century A. D.)” JBA 2, pp. 111–120.

Secondary

Biswas, Swapan Kumar. 1994. “Pālarāja Debapālera Samasāmayika Śrīpāhilera Ekṭi Aprakāśita Prastaralipi.” BESP 12 (2), pp. 13–21.