# Early Telugu inscription from Amarāvati

Vēṭūri Prabhākaraśāstri

Author of digital edition: Vēṭūri Prabhākaraśāstri

Contributor: Jens Thomas

Identifier: DHARMA_INSTelugu00098

Repository: Telugu Inscriptions (tfb-telugu-epigraphy)

File path: texts/DHARMA_INSTelugu00098.xml

Language: Telugu [Script (unspecified)]

Commit: 2026-09-09 14:31 (ea24452), last modified 2026-09-09 14:25
(0ba7051)

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## Edition

⟨1⟩ nāgabu

## Translation

snake

## Commentary

The inscription consists of the Sanskrit word nāga- "snake" with the
Telugu suffix -mbu. This suffix is typical for Telugu and is attached to
tatsama words. There is no trace of an anusvāra. Prabhākaraśāstri
explains this as a form of haplography or the loss of the first
consonant respectively (పూర్వహల్లోపము). Ramāprasād Canda edited the word as
nāga-bu so as if two words were involved and stated that “[t]his is
probably the name of the stone-mason” (???). According to
Prabhākaraśāstri the stone is damaged but traces of a sculpture are
still visible: “విఱుగఁగొట్టఁబడిన మీఁది శిల్పచిత్రము గొప్ప సర్పమై యుండును [The damaged
upper sculpture is a big snake (translation by Jens Thomas)]” (???). The
stone does not bear any other inscriptions.

## Bibliography

The inscription was noted in ARIE together with other (Prākr̥t)
inscriptions from Amarāvati that were found in the Central Museum of
Madras. These inscriptions were published by Ramaprasad Chandra who
added translations or short notes (the Telugu inscription has the number
30). The inscription was again published by Vēṭūri Prabhākaraśāstri
together with a picture and a discussion.

### Primary

[RC] Chanda, Rama Prasad. 1919–1920. “Some unpublished Amaravati
inscriptions.” EI 15, pp. 258–275. Pages 258–275, item 13.

[VP] Prabhākaraśāstri, Vēṭūri. 1928. “Prācīnāṁdhraśāsanamulu.” Bh 5 (6),
pp. 933–949. Pages 933–949, item 1.

### Secondary

No name. 1986. Annual reports on Indian epigraphy (1911-1914). Reprint.
New Delhi: Director General, Archaeological survey of India. Page 54,
appendix B/1913, item 499.

Radhakrishna, Budaraju. 1971. Early Telugu inscriptions (up to 1100
A.D.): with texts, glossary & brief linguistic history. Hyderabad:
Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Akademi. Page 1, item 1.