# Kanheri Caves 34 and 35 Path Inscription

Kelsey Martini and Vincent Tournier

Authors of digital edition: Kelsey Martini, Vincent Tournier

Contributor: Kelsey Martini

Identifier: DHARMA_INSKanheri00029

Repository: Early Western Deccan (tfb-earlywesterndeccan-epigraphy)

File path: xml/DHARMA_INSKanheri00029.xml

Language: Middle Indo-Aryan [Script (unspecified)]

Commit: 2026-09-17 08:03 (159f390), last modified 2026-09-17 05:29
(3d6ac09)

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## Edition

⟨1⟩ kaliya(ṇā)to ⟨2⟩ nadasa kamā⟨3⟩rasa patho de⟨4⟩yadha□ma ⯼

## Translation

A path: the meritorious gift of Nada the kamāra from Kalyan

## Commentary

ASWI V is correct when they say that “This inscription seems to be one
of the oldest found at Kaṇheri”.

⟨2–3⟩ kamārasa. The meaning of this epithet of the donor is not entirely
clear. Both B+B and G translate it as “blacksmith”, presumably equating
it with Skt. kaṃsakāra. Although enticing, this interpretation is less
than certain as it would leave the ā-mātrā on the -mā- unexplained and
require us to supply a -kā- (cf. III Junn 8.3 kāsakāresu seniya).

## Bibliography

### Primary

[B&B] Burgess, James & Georg Bühler. 1883. Report on the Elura cave
temples and the Brahmanical and Jaina caves in Western India: Completing
the results of the fifth, sixth, and seventh seasons’ operations of the
Archaeological survey, 1877–78, 1878–79, 1879–80. Vol. 5. Archaeological
Survey of Western India. London: Trübner & Co. Page 86, item 30.

[G] Gokhale, Shobhana. 1991. Kanheri inscriptions. Pune: Deccan College
Post Graduate and Research Institute. Page 81, item 29.

### Secondary

Naik, A. V. 1948. “Inscriptions of the Deccan: an epigraphical survey
(Circa 300 B.C.-1300 A.D.)” BDCRI 9 (1/2), pp. 1–160. [URL]. Pages
20–21.

Lamotte, Etienne. 1958. Histoire du bouddhisme indien: des origines à
l’ère Śaka. Bibliothèque du Muséon 43. Louvain: Université catholique de
Louvain, Institut Orientaliste. Page 568.

Hettiarachchy, Jayadevanandasara. 1973. “Buddhism in the Northern Deccan
under the Śātavāhana Rulers (c. 30 B.C. - 225 A.D.)” Doctoral Thesis,
University of London. London. Page 192.

Ray, Himanshu Prabha. 1986. Monastery and guild: Commerce under the
Sātavāhanas. Delhi: Oxford University Press. [URL]. Page 61.