Amgachi Plate of Vigrahapāla, year 12

Editor: Ryosuke Furui.

Identifier: DHARMA_INSBengalCharters00092.

Hand description:

Language: Sanskrit.

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

Version: (9473ed8), last modified (5df3d88).

Edition

Seal

⟨1⟩ śrī-vigrahapāla-devaḥ

Plate

⟨Page 1r⟩ ⟨01⟩

(ni)[…] ni

⟨1⟩

@ svasti||

I. Sragdharā

(mai)trī(ṁ) kāruṇya-ratna-pramudita-hr̥dayaḥ preyasīṁ sandadhānaḥ

a

⟨2⟩ (sa)myak-samvo(dhi-vi)dyā-sari(d-amala-jala-kṣā)litājñāna-pa⟨3⟩ṅkaḥ|

b

jitvā yaḥ kāma-kāri-prabhavam abhivavaṁ śāśvatī(ṁ) ⟨4⟩ prāpa śānti(ṁ)

c

sa śrīmal-lokanātho jayati daśa-valo ’nyaś ca ⟨5⟩ gopāla-devaḥ||

d
II. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

lakṣmī-janma-niketanaṁ sama-karo voḍhu(ṁ) kṣamaḥ kṣmā-bharaṁ

a

pakṣa-ccheda-bhayād upasthitavatām ekāśrayo bhū-bhr̥t¿a?⟨ā⟩ṁ*|

b

maryyādā-paripālanaika-nirataḥ ¿s?⟨ś⟩saury(ā)⟨6⟩(la)y(o) ’smād abhūd

c

dugdhāmbhodhi-vilāsa-hāsi-mahimā śrī-dharmapālo nr̥paḥ||

d
III. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

rāmasyeva gr̥hīta-satya-tapasas tasyānurūpo guṇaiḥ

a

saumittrer udapādi tulya⟨7⟩-(mahi)mā vākpāla-nāmānujaḥ|

b

yaḥ śrīmān naya-vikramaika-vasatir bhrātuḥ sthitaḥ śāsane

c

śūnyāḥ śatru-patākinībhir akarod ekātapattrā diśaḥ⟨||⟩

d
IV. Vasantatilakā

tasmād u⟨8⟩(pendra-caritai)r jagatīm punānaḥ

a

putro vabhūva vijayī jayapāla-nāmā|

b

dharma-dviṣā(ṁ) śamayitā yudhi devapāle

c

yaḥ pūrva-j¿o?⟨e⟩ bhuvana-rājya-sukhāny a¿v?⟨n⟩aiṣīt·||

d
V. Āryā

śrīmā⟨9⟩(n vigra)hapālas tat-sūnur ajātaśatrur iva jātaḥ|

ab

śatru-vanitā-prasādhana-vilopi-vimalāsi-jala-dhāraḥ||

cd
VI. Śārdūlavikrīḍita

dik-pālaiḥ kṣiti-pālanāya dadhataṁ deh¿a?⟨e⟩ vibha⟨10⟩(ktāṅ guṇān·)

a

śrīmantaṁ janayām vabhūva tanayaṁ nārāyaṇaṁ sa prabhuṁ|

b

yaḥ kṣoṇī-patibhiḥ śiro-maṇi-rucāśliṣṭāṁgh(r)i-pīṭhopala(ṁ)

c

nyāyopāttam alaṁcakāra caritaiḥ{|} ⟨11⟩ svair eva dharmāsanaṁ*||

d
VII. Vasantatilakā

toyāśayair jaladhi-mūla-gabhīra-garbhair

a

devālayais ca kula-bhū-¿v?⟨dh⟩ara-tulya-kakṣaiḥ|

b

vikhyāta-kīrttir abhavat tanayaś ca tasya

c

śrī-rājyapāla I⟨12⟩ti ma(dhyama)-loka-pālaḥ||

d
VIII. Sragdharā

tasmāt pūrva-kṣiti-dhrān nidhir iva mahasā(ṁ) rāṣṭrakūṭānvayendos

a

tuṅgasyottuṅga-mauler dduhitari tanayo bhāgyadevyā(ṁ) prasūtaḥ⟨|⟩

b

śrīmā⟨13⟩(ṅ gopāla-deva)ś cirataram avaner eka-patnyā Ivaiko

c

bharttā ⟨’⟩bhūn naika-ratna-dyuti-khacita-catuḥ-sindhu-citrāṁśukāyāḥ||

d
IX. Indravajrā

ya(ṁ) svāmina(ṁ) rāja-guṇair anūnam

a

āsevate cā⟨14⟩(rutayānu)raktā|

b

Utsāha-mantra-prabhu-śakti-lakṣmīḥ

c

pr̥thvī(ṁ) sapatnīm iva śīlayant(ī)||

d
X. Vasantatilakā

tasmād vabhūva savitur vasu-koṭi-varṣī{|}

a

kālena candra Iva vigrahapāla-deva⟨15⟩(ḥ|)

b

(netra-priyeṇa) vimalena kalāmayena

c

yenoditena dalito bhuvanasya tāpaḥ||

d
XI. Mālinī

hata-sakala-vipakṣaḥ saṅgare vāhu-darpād

a

anadhikr̥ta-viluptaṁ rājyam āsādya pitryaṁ*⟨|⟩

b

⟨16⟩ (nihita)-caraṇa-padmo bhū-bhr̥tāṁ mūrdhni ta(smā)d

c

abhavad avani-pālaḥ śrī-mahīpāla-deveḥ||

d
XII. Śikhariṇī

tyajan doṣāsaṅga(ṁ) śirasi kr̥ta-pādaḥ kṣiti-bhr̥tā(ṁ)

a

vitanvan· sarvvāśāḥ prasabha⟨17⟩(m udayādre)r iva raviḥ⟨|⟩

b

hata-(dhvāntaḥ snigdha)-prakr̥tir anurāg¿o?⟨ai⟩ka-vasatis

c

tato dhanyaḥ puṇyair ajani nayapālo nara-pati¿ṁ?⟨ḥ⟩||

d
XIII. Sragdharā

pītaḥ saj-jana-l¿e?⟨o⟩canaiḥ smara-ripoḥ pūjā⟨18⟩(nuraktaḥ) sadā{|}

a

saṁgrāme (dhavalo) ’dhika(ś ca) haritaḥ kāla⟨ḥ⟩ kule vidviṣāṁ|

b

cātur-vvarṇṇya-samāśrayaḥ ¿ś?⟨s⟩ita-ya¿s?⟨ś⟩a¿s?⟨ḥ⟩-pū¿p?⟨r⟩air jjagad rambhayan(·){|}

c

śrīmad-vigrahapāla-deva-nr̥patiḥ ⟨19⟩ (puṇyair jja)nānām abhūt(·)||

d
XIV. Mandākrāntā

(deśe) prāci pracura-payasi svaccham āpīya toyaṁ

a

svairaṁ bhrāntvā tad-anu malayopatyakā-candaneṣu|

b

kr̥tvā sāndrair maruṣu jaḍatāṁ śīkarair a⟨20⟩(bhra-tulyāḥ)

c

(prā)leyādreḥ kaṭakam abhajan yasya senā-gajendrāḥ||

d

sa khalu bhāgīrathī-patha-pravarttamāna-nānā-vidha-nau-vāṭaka-sampādita-setu-vandha-nihita⟨21⟩-(śaila-śikhara-śreṇ)ī-(v)i(bhram)āt·| niratiśaya-ghana-ghanāghana-ghaṭā-śyāmāyamāna-vāsara-lakṣmī-samāravdha-santata-jalada-samaya-sandehāt·| Udīcīnāneka⟨22⟩-narapati-prābhr̥t(ī-kr̥tāprameya-ha)ya-vāhinī-kha(ra-khurotkhā)ta-dhūlī-dhūsarita-dig-antarālāt·| parameśvara-sevā-samāyāt¿a?⟨ā⟩śeṣa-j¿ā?⟨a⟩mvūdvīpa-bhū-pālānanta⟨23⟩-pādāta-bhara-namad-a(vaneḥ|) (me)dha(nahr̥ṣṭi)-samāvāsita-śrīmaj-jaya-skandhāvārāt·| paramasaugato mahārā⟨jā⟩dhirāja-śrī-nayapāla-deva-pādānudhyātaḥ parame⟨24⟩śvaraḥ para(mabhaṭṭārako mahā)rājādhirājaḥ śrīmān· vigrahapāla-devaḥ kuśalī| śrī-puṇḍravarddhana-bhuktau koṭīvarṣa-viṣayāntaḥpāti-vrāhmaṇīgrāma⟨25⟩-maṇḍala-(samvaddha)-sva-samvaddhāvacchinna| talopeta-Adhunā-hala-kulita|| kākinī-trayādhikodamāna-dvayopeta| ⟨26⟩ sa-(pādāḍha)vāpottara-droṇa-dvaya-sameta|| ṣaṭ-kulya-pramāṇa-ṭarṇṇagraheśvara-sameta-viṣamapurā⟨ṁ⟩śe{ṁ} samupagatāśe{|}⟨27⟩ṣa-(rāja-puruṣān·) (rāja)-rājanyaka| rājaputra| rājāmātya| mahāsāndhivigrahika| mahākṣapaṭalika| mahāsāmanta| mahāsenāpati| mahāpratīhāra| ⟨28⟩ dau[ḥsādhasādhanika| mahā]daṇḍanāyaka| mahākumārāmātya| rājasthānoparika| dāśāparādhika| cauroddharaṇika| dāṇḍika| dāṇḍapā¿s?⟨ś⟩ika| ¿s?⟨ś⟩au⟨29⟩(lk)i[ka| gaulmika| kṣe]trapa| prāntapāla| koṭṭapāla| Aṅgarakṣa| tad-āyukta-viniyuktaka| hastyaśvoṣṭranauvalavyāpr̥taka| kiśoravaḍavāgomahiṣyajā⟨30⟩vi[kādhyakṣa| dūta-preṣaṇika|] gamāgamika| Abhitvaramāṇa| viṣayapati| grāmapati| tarika| gauḍa| mālava| khaśa| hūṇa| kulika| karṇṇāṭa| lāṭa| cāṭa| ⟨31⟩ [bhaṭa| sevakādīn anyāṁś c]ākīrttitān·| rāja-pādopajīvina⟨ḥ⟩| prativāsino| vrāhmaṇottarān(·)| mahattamottama-kuṭumvi-puroga| medāndhra-caṇḍāla-paryantā⟨32⟩[n· yathārhaṁ mānaya](ti| vodhayati|) samādiśati ca|

viditam astu bhavatā(ṁ)| yathopari-lilhito ’yaṁ grāmaḥ| sva-sīmā-tr̥ṇa-pūti-gocara-paryantaḥ sa-talaḥ sodde(śaḥ) ⟨33⟩ [sāmra-madhūkaḥ| sa-jala-sthalaḥ] (sa-gartto)ṣaraḥ sa-daśāpacāraḥ| sa-cauroddharaṇaḥ parihr̥ta-sarva-pīḍaḥ| A-cāṭa-bhaṭa-(praveśaḥ) Akiñcit-pragrā(hyaḥ samasta-bhā) ⟨Page 1v⟩ ⟨34⟩ ga-bhoga-kara-hiraṇyādi-pratyāya-sametaḥ| bhūmi-cchidra-nyāyena| (Ā)⟨35⟩-candrārka-kṣiti-sama-kālam· mātā-pitror ātmanaś ca puṇya⟨36⟩-yaśo ⟨’⟩bhivr̥ddhaye bhagavantaṁ vuddha-bhaṭṭārakam uddiśya (śāṇḍi)⟨37⟩lya-sagotrāya| śāṇḍilya-A¿ś?⟨s⟩ita{|}-daivala-pravarāya ⟨38⟩ hari-savrahmacāriṇe| sāmavedine| kauthumī-śākhādhyāyi⟨39⟩ne| mīmāṁsā-vyākaraṇa-tarkka-vidyā-vide| kroḍāñca-vinirggata-matsyāvāsa-vinirggatāya| chattrāgrāma-vāstavyāya| vedānta-vit·-padmāvanadeva-p¿ai?⟨au⟩trāya| maho⟨40⟩pādhyāya-Arkkadeva-putrāya khoduladevaśarmmaṇe| soma-grahe vidhivat· gaṅgāyāṁ snātvā śāsanī-kr̥tya pradatto ’smābhiḥ| Ato bhavadbhiḥ sarvair evānumanta(vya)⟨41⟩M bhāvibhir api bhūpatibhiḥ| bhūmer dāna-phala-gaur¿ā?⟨a⟩vāT| Apaharaṇena ca mahā-naraka-pāta-bhayāT| dānam idam anumodyānumodyānupālanīyam⟨·⟩ p⟨r⟩at¿a?⟨i⟩vāsibhi⟨42⟩ś ca kṣetra-karaiḥ| Ājñā-śravaṇa-vidheyī-bhūya yathā-kālam samucita-bhāga-bhoga-kara-hiraṇyādi-pratyāyopanayaḥ kārya Iti||||

sam⟨v⟩at⟨·⟩ 12 caitra-dine 9⟨||⟩

bhavanti ⟨43⟩ cātra dharmānuśa(ṁ)sinaḥ ślokāh||

XV. Anuṣṭubh

vahubhi⟨r⟩ vasudhā dattā rājabhiḥ sagrādibhiḥ|

ab

yasya yasya yadā bhūmis tasya tasya tadā phala⟨ṁ⟩||

cd
XVI. Anuṣṭubh

bhūmi(ṁ) yaḥ pratigr̥hṇāti yaś ca bhūmi(ṁ) pra⟨44⟩yacchati|

ab

Ubhau tau puṇya-(ka)rmāṇau niyataṁ svarga-gāminau¿|?⟨||⟩

cd
XVII. Anuṣṭubh

gām ekāṁ svarṇṇam ekañ ca bhūmer apy arddham aṅgulaṁ|

ab

haran narakam āyāti yāvad āhūta (saṁpla)vam·||

cd
XVIII. Anuṣṭubh

ṣaṣṭim varṣa⟨45⟩-sahasrāṇi svarge modati bhūmi-daḥ¿||?⟨|⟩

ab

Ākseptā cānumantā ca tān⟨y⟩ eva narake vaseT||

cd
XIX. Anuṣṭubh

sva-dattāṁ para-dattā(ṁ) vā yo hareta vasundharām·|

ab

sa vi(ṣṭhāyāṁ) kr̥mi(r) bhūtvā pi⟨46⟩tr̥bhiḥ saha pacyate||

cd
XX. Śālinī

sarvān etān bhāvinaḥ pārthivendrāṁ

a

bhūyo bhūyaḥ prārthayaty esa rāmaḥ|

b

sāmānyo ⟨’⟩ya⟨ṁ dha⟩rma-setur nr̥pāṇā⟨ṁ⟩

c

kāle kāle pālanīyaḥ krameṇa||

d
XXI. Puṣpitāgrā

I⟨47⟩ti kamala-dalāmvu-vindu-lolā(ṁ)

a

śriyam anucintya manuṣya-jīvitañ ca|

b

sakalam idam udāhr̥tañ ca vuddhvā

c

na hi puruṣaiḥ para-kīrttayo vilo[pyāḥ||]

d
XXII. Anuṣṭubh

¿ṣ?⟨s⟩au¿s?⟨ṣ⟩ā(mya)⟨48⟩-va(r)ddhi-maryādā-(yaśaḥ)-saty¿a?⟨ā⟩(dy)-āśā-nidhiḥ|

ab

v{v}ra(hm)āṇī-(dākṣā)-mā-dhanoḥ (dāha)¿ṇ?⟨n⟩ī dagdha-bhū-bhujāṁ*||

cd
XXIII. Āryā

śrīmad-vigrahapālaḥ kṣiti-pati-tilako (tra)yi(naḥ) [3×]ḥ|

ab

śrī-sa⟨49⟩rasirājam akaro¿m?⟨n⟩ mantriṇam iha śāsane dūtaṁ*||

cd
XXIV. Anuṣṭubh

gho¿s?⟨ṣ⟩alī-grāma-niryāta-mahīdharadeva-sūnunā⟨|⟩

ab

Idaṁ śāsanam ut⟨·⟩kīrṇṇaṁ śaśidev¿a?⟨e⟩na śilpinā[||]

cd

Apparatus

Seal

⟨1⟩ śrī- ⬦ śrīr RDB.

Plate

⟨01⟩ (ni)[…] ni • The character ni, which seems to be an abbreviation for nibaddha "confirmed" is engraved at both upper left and right corners of the obverse.

⟨1⟩ @ ⬦ Oṁ RDB.

⟨13⟩ cā⟨14⟩(rutayānu)raktā ⬦ cā⟨14⟩(rutarānu)raktā RDB.

⟨14⟩ śīlayant(ī) ⬦ śīlayant¿ā?⟨īṁ⟩ RDB.

⟨17⟩ anurāg¿o?⟨ai⟩ka- ⬦ anurāgaika- RDB.

⟨18⟩ (dhavalo) ⬦ (caturo) RDB. — ⟨18⟩ ’dhika(ś ca) ⬦ ’dhika(ñ ca) RDB. — ⟨18⟩ kāla⟨ḥ⟩ ⬦ kāla(ḥ) RDB. — ⟨18⟩ ¿ś?⟨s⟩ita- ⬦ sita- RDB. — ⟨18⟩ -ya¿s?⟨ś⟩a¿s?⟨ḥ⟩- ⬦ yaśa⟨ḥ⟩- RDB. — ⟨18⟩ -pū¿p?⟨r⟩air ⬦ -pu(ñjai)r RDB.

⟨22⟩ -samāyāt¿a?⟨ā⟩śeṣa- ⬦ -samāyātāśeṣa- RDB. — ⟨22⟩ -j¿ā?⟨a⟩mvūdvīpa- ⬦ -jamvūdvīpa- RDB.

⟨23⟩ -pādāta- ⬦ -ṣādāta- RDB. — ⟨23⟩ -a(vaneḥ|) ⬦ -(avaneḥ||) RDB. — ⟨23⟩ (me)dha(nahr̥ṣṭi)- ⬦ (ha?)(ra)dhā(ma?) RDB.

⟨25⟩ -maṇḍala-(samvaddha) ⬦ -maṇḍa(lāntaḥpāti)- RDB. — ⟨25⟩ -samvaddhāvacchinna| ⬦ -saṁvaddhāvacchinna- RDB. — ⟨25⟩ -dvayopeta| ⬦ -dvayopeta- RDB.

⟨26⟩ sa-(pādāḍha)vāpottara- ⬦ sa[3×]sīmāntaḥ| RDB. — ⟨26⟩ -ṭarṇṇagraheśvara- ⬦ -(da?)ṇḍatraheśvara- RDB. — ⟨26⟩ -viṣamapurā⟨ṁ⟩śe{ṁ} ⬦ viṣamapurāṁśe RDB.

⟨27⟩ (rāja)-rājanyaka ⬦ (rāja)| rājanyaka RDB.

⟨28⟩ rājasthānoparika ⬦ rājasthānīyoparika RDB. — ⟨28⟩ dāṇḍapā¿s?⟨ś⟩ika ⬦ dāṇḍapāśika RDB.

⟨29⟩ kiśoravaḍavāgomahiṣyajā⟨30⟩vi[kādhyakṣa] ⬦ kiśoravaḍavāgomahiṣājā⟨30⟩(vikādhyakṣa) RDB.

⟨31⟩ -puroga| ⬦ purogā(n) RDB.

⟨32⟩ -pūti- ⬦ -yūti- RDB.

⟨34⟩ -sametaḥ| ⬦ -sametaḥ RDB. — ⟨34⟩ -nyāyena| (Ā) ⬦ nyāyenā RDB.

⟨37⟩ śāṇḍilya__________________________________-A¿ś?⟨s⟩ita ⬦ śāṇḍilyāsita- RDB.

⟨39⟩ -vyākaraṇa- ⬦ -myākaraṇa- RDB. — ⟨39⟩ kroḍāñca- ⬦ kroḍañci- RDB.

⟨42⟩ ||_|| ⬦ || RDB.

⟨44⟩ āhūta ⬦ ābhūta- RDB.

⟨45⟩ tān⟨y⟩ ⬦ tām RDB.

⟨46⟩ ⟨’⟩ya⟨ṁ dha⟩rma- ⬦ yaṁ dharma- RDB.

⟨47⟩ ca| ⬦ ca⟨|⟩ RDB. — ⟨47⟩ ¿ṣ?⟨s⟩au¿s?⟨ṣ⟩ā(mya) ⬦ sausā[2×] RDB.

⟨48⟩ -va(r)ddhi- ⬦ vanti RDB. — ⟨48⟩ -(yaśaḥ)- ⬦ (ra?)saṁ RDB. — ⟨48⟩ -saty¿a?⟨ā⟩(dy)-āśā- ⬦ -satya-tapo- RDB. — ⟨48⟩ v{v}ra(hm)āṇī- ⬦ vrahmāṇi RDB. — ⟨48⟩ -(dākṣā)-mā- ⬦ suradhāmā RDB. — ⟨48⟩ (dāha)¿ṇ?⟨n⟩ī ⬦ [2×]ṇo RDB. — ⟨48⟩ (tra)yi(naḥ) ⬦ maṇi[2×] RDB. — ⟨48⟩ -sa⟨49⟩rasirājam ⬦ -sa⟨49⟩hasirājam RDB.

⟨49⟩ -mahīdharadeva- • F. W. Thomas, the volume editor of Epigraphia Indica, suggests -śrī-mahīdhara- as an intended reading due to metrical consideration. May emend -mahīdharasya in view of similar stanzas in the Belwa Plate of Mahīpāla I, year 2 and other Pāla plates. — ⟨49⟩ ut⟨·⟩kīrṇṇaṁ ⬦ utkīrṇṇaṁ RDB. — ⟨49⟩ śaśidev¿a?⟨e⟩na ⬦ śaśideveva RDB.

Translation by Ryosuke Furui

Seal

(1) Illustrious Vigrahapāladeva (III)

Plate

(01) Confirmed. Confirmed.

(1) Success! Welfare!

I
The one with mind delighted by the jewel of compassion, who is united with beloved goddess Benevolence, whose dirt of ignorance is cleansed by pure water of the stream of knowledge of perfect enlightenment, who, after conquering the powerful cause of existence producing desire, acquired eternal tranquillity, may he, the illustrious Lord of the World (the Buddha) possessing ten powers be victorious, otherwise also Gopāladeva (I)!
II
From him was born illustrious king Dharmapāla, who was the birthplace of Lakṣmī (the ocean) with makaras {was levying fair tax on the origin of wealth}, able to carry the burden of the earth, a sole refuge for mountains {kings} approaching him in fear of cutting of their wings {destruction of their troops}, devoted to the protection of custom, an abode of heroism and great by whiteness with beauty of milk ocean.
III
Of him, who gained genuine asceticism like Rāma, there was the brother named Vākpāla, similar [to him] and born with virtues of the son of Sumitrā (Lakṣmaṇa), having equal greatness. He was an illustrious sole abode of conduct and valour, adhered to the order of his brother and made quarters under one umbrella without enemy armies.
IV
From him was born the son, the victor named Jayapāla, who cleansed the world by his deeds of Upendra (Viṣṇu). He, the tranquiliser of enemies of Dharma in battle, brought comforts of world kingship to Devapāla, his elder.
V
Illustrious Vigrahapāla (I), his son like Ajātaśatru (Indra), was born. He held the stream of water that was the clean sword destroying decorations of wives of his enemies.
VI
He procreated his illustrious son Nārāyaṇa[pāla], the master, who held in his body virtues parted by the guardians of quarters for the protection of the earth. He decorated by his own deeds the properly acquired seat of dharma, the stone of whose footstool was attached by lustre of crest jewels by kings.
VII
And his son, the protector of central world named illustrious Rājyapāla was born, with the fame known by the bed of water inside the deep bottom of the ocean and by the abodes of deities which equalled the rooms of kings of the lineage.
VIII
From him in Bhāgyadevī, the daughter of Tuṅga, the moon of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa lineage with raised crown, was born the son like the treasury of greatness of previous kings. [He,] illustrious Gopāladeva (III) was for a long time like the only one husband of the earth, the devoted wife who had manifold garments of four oceans studded with lustre of many gems.
IX
Beloved Lakṣmī, who was energy (śakti) of will (utsāha), consultation (mantra) and lordship (prabhu), served with loveliness this master filled with royal virtues, as if exceeding the earth, her co-wife.
X
From him, as if the moon raining ten million of rays was born from the sun at proper time, was born Vigrahapāladeva (II). By him who was dear to eyes, spotless, having rays {branches of arts} and elevated, the heat of the world was dispersed.
XI
From him was born illustrious king Mahīpāladeva (I), who had all the enemies destroyed in battle because of the pride of his arms after stabilising the ancestral kingdom unruled and lost, and had his lotus-like feet laid on the heads of kings.
XII
King Nayapāla, abandoning association with vices, putting his feet on heads of kings, forcibly filling all the spaces, having destroyed darkness, having affectionate subjects, the sole abode of affection and rich with virtues, was born from him, as if the sun [was born] from the Udaya Mountain.
XIII
Illustrious King Vigrahapāladeva (III), who was drunk by the eyes of good people, always pleasant in worships of the enemy of love (Śiva), beautiful and superior to the sun in battle, the death in the troop of enemies, the shelter of those belonging to four varṇas, colouring the world with his swelling white fame, was born with virtues.
XIV
After drinking clean water in the eastern country abundant with water, then wandering freely in candana forests at the foot of Malaya Mountain, after making coolness in the Desert by dense mist, his cloud-like best war elephants divided the ridge of Snow Mountain.

(20–23) From the illustrious military camp of victory pitched at Medhanahr̥ṣṭi, where the group of mountain peaks laid by the bridge produced by various kinds of large ships going around the path of river Bhāgīrathī are rolling, where the doubt of the time of lasting cloud occurred because of daylight darkened by the assembly of unsurpassed massive rutting elephants, where the intermediate space of directions is made grey by dust dug up by the hard hooves of innumerable horse troops gifted by many northern kings and where the earth bows to the weight of innumerable foot soldiers of all the kings of Jambūdvīpa coming for the service to the supreme lord.

(24–32) Parameśvara paramabhaṭṭāraka mahārājādhirāja Illustrious Vigrahapāladeva (III), healthy, the devout worshipper of Sugata (the Buddha), who was accepted by his majesty mahārājādhirāja illustrious Nayapāladeva, honours, announces and orders suitably all the approached royal officials beginning with rāja, rājanyaka, rājaputra, rājāmātya, mahāsāndhivigrahika, mahākṣapaṭalika, mahāsāmanta, mahāsenāpati, mahāpratihāra, dauḥsādhasādhanika, mahādaṇḍanāyaka, mahākumārāmātya, rājasthānoparika, dāśāparādhika, cauroddharaṇika, dāṇḍika, dāṇḍapāśika, śaulkika, gaulmika, kṣetrapa, prāntapāla, koṭṭapāla, aṅgarakṣa, their āyuktas and viniyuktakas, hastyaśvoṣṭranaubalavyāpr̥taka, kiśoravaḍavāgomahiṣyajāvikādhyakṣa, dūta, preṣaṇika, gamāgamika, abhitvaramāṇa, viṣayapati, grāmapati, tarika, Gauḍa, Mālava, Khaśa, Hūṇa, Kulika, Karṇāta, Lāṭa, cāṭa, bhaṭa and sevaka, and the other unnamed dependants on the royal feet, and the residents accompanied by brāhmaṇas, led by mahattamas, uttamas and kuṭumbins reaching to medas, andhras and caṇḍālas, at the portion of Viṣamapura accompanied by Ṭarṇagraheśvara, which was standard of six kulyas accompanied by two droṇas added with one and a quarter āḍhavāpas accompanied by two udamānas with excess of three kākinīs, accompanied by uninterrupted flat land connected to itself, now ploughed, belonging to Brāhmaṇīgrāma maṇḍala within Koṭīvarṣa viṣaya in illustrious Puṇḍravardhana bhukti [as follows]:

(32–42) “It should be known to you. That village as written above, as far as its own border, grass field and pasture, was given by us in the name of the venerable Lord Buddha, after making a royal grant, with flat land, with raised ground, with mango and mahua trees, with watering place, with ditch and saline land, with fine of ten offences, with the right to catch thieves, exempted from all the burdens, without entry of cāṭas and bhaṭas, without anything taken away, accompanied by contribution of all bhāga, bhoga, kara, hiraṇya and so on, by the rule of land reclamation, as long as the moon, the sun and the earth exist, for the increase of merit and fame of parents and myself, to Khoduladevaśarman, belonging to Śāṇḍilya gotra and Śāṇḍilya, Asita and Daivala pravara, co-disciple of Hari, Sāmavedin, learning Kauthumī śākhā, knowing the disciplines of hermeneutics, grammar and epistemology, originating from Matsyāvāsa originating from Kroḍāñca and residing in Chattrāgrāma, the grandson of Padmāvanadeva knowing Vedānta and the son of mahopadhyāya Arkadeva, after bathing in river Gaṅgā according to the rule at the time of lunar eclipse. Hence it should be consented to by you all. This donation should also be protected by future kings after repeatedly approving it out of respect for merit of donation of land and from fear of falling to the great hell by its violation. And the practice of appropriate contribution of bhāga, bhoga, kara, hiraṇya and so on should be made at proper time by residing cultivators after becoming subject to hearing the order [of donee].”

(42) Year 12 month Caitra day 9.

(42–43) Here are also verses instructing dharma [as follows]:

XV
The earth was given by many kings beginning with Sagara. To the one to whom the land belongs, belongs then the merit.
XVI
The one who gains land and the one who gives land, both of them with meritorious deeds are surely going to heaven.
XVII
The one stealing a cow, one piece of gold or a half aṅgula of land comes to hell as long as he invokes deluge.
XVIII
For sixty thousand years, a giver of land rejoices in heaven. The one who denies it and the one who agrees with him live in hell for the same period.
XIX
Either given by himself or given by the others, the one who stole land, he would be boiled with his ancestors after becoming an insect in excreta.
XX
To all these future kings, this Rāma demands repeatedly. “This common bridge of dharma for kings should be always protected with effort.”
XXI
After thus considering wealth and human life fragile as a drop of water on lotus petal, also after knowing all that is said, the meritorious deeds of others should not be destroyed by human beings.
XXII
The one who is the storehouse of prospects for good manner, fame, truth and so on increasing due to reconciliation, the bowstring of the bow of the Mother Brahmāṇī, the daughter of Dakṣa (Durgā) for distressed kings.
XXIII
Illustrious Vigrahapāla (III), the mark of kings, made illustrious Sarasirāja, the councilor, a messenger here in this edict of […] of three Vedss.
XXIV
This edict was engraved by Śaśideva, the artisan, the son of Mahīdharadeva originating from Ghoṣalīgrāma.

Commentary

Plate

XXII
The reading and interpretation of this stanza, which seems to eulogise King Vigrahapāla III mentioned in the folloing stanza, are uncertain due to the damage on the plate and quality of the available photograph. It needs to be verified through the inspection of the plate.

Bibliography

First notified by Henry Thomas Colebrooke1809. A. F. Rudolf Hoernle1885 published a tentative reading of the text and reprinted it with revision1885. Franz Kielhorn1892 then published the metrical portion only, and Akshaya Kumar Maitreya1912 incorporated it in his collection. Properly edited by Rakhal Das Banerji1919–1920 for the first time. Now re-edited by Ryosuke Furui based on the reading from estampages published in Banerji’s edition and digital photographs provided by the Asiatic Society.

Primary

[RH1] Hoernle, Augustus Frederic Rudolf. 1885. Centenary review of the Asiatic Society of Bengal from 1784 to 1883, part II. Archaeology, history, literature, &c. Calcutta: The Asiatic Society of Bengal. Pages 203–216.

[RH2] Hoernle, Augustus Frederic Rudolf. 1885. “The Palas of Bengal.” IA 14, pp. 162–168.

[RDB] Banerji, Rakhal Das. 1919–1920. “The Amgachhi Grant of Vigraha-Pala III: the 12th Year.” EI 15, pp. 293–301.

Secondary

Colebrooke, Henry Thomas. 1809. “On ancient Monuments, containing Sanskrit Inscriptions.” AR 9, pp. 398–452. [URL]. Pages 442–446.

Kielhorn, Franz. 1892. “The Amgacchi copper-plate grant of Vigrahapaladeva III.” Indian Antiquary 21, pp. 97–101. [URL].

Maitreya, Akshayakumāra. 1912. Gauḍalekhamālā. Rajshahi: The Varendra Research Society. Pages 121–126.