Phnom Sambok inscription (K. 1373)

Editors: Chloé Chollet, Dominic Goodall.

Identifier: DHARMA_INSCIK01373.

Language: Sanskrit.

Repository: Khmer (tfc-khmer-epigraphy).

Version: (d16b886), last modified (25c6f3e).

Edition

⟨1⟩ vīrapañcā(śa)

I. Anuṣṭubh

⟨2⟩ vīrapramocanau pādau

a

trapusī(sau?) pinākinaḥ

b

⟨3⟩ nighnarājasya pivato

c

jayataḥ pāpahāri¡n!au ||

d

Apparatus

⟨2⟩ trapusī(sau?) • The first transcription of the inscription indicated trapusīr(au), which is difficult to interpret. trapus(ī)ra(ṁ) is another possible reading. But there is a crevice in the stone after trapusī-, and it could have damaged the left part of the s and most of the au vowel.

Translation into French by Dominic Goodall

(1) Les cinquante héros {/ soldats}.

I
Ils sont victorieux (jayataḥ), [ces] deux pieds en étain (trapusīsau) de Śiva (pinākinaḥ), capables de délivrer les héros {/soldats} (vīrapramocanau), capables d’enlever le démérite (pāpahāriṇau) même d’un [véritable] roi des couards {/ du roi Nighna ?} (nighnarājasya) pour celui qui en boit (pivataḥ) [l’eau lustrale qui y a été versée].

Commentary

Observations of Diwakar Acharya: inside the Paśupati shrine in Kathmandu, in front of the Vāsuki temple (slightly to the right when approaching it) there used to be a rock with natural markings that were revered as the footprints of Śiva. A niche was constructed in the 1960s to protect them, and after that, perhaps in the 1980s, the niche was removed, damaging the rock in the process, which was then also thrown out when they were constructing a protective wall. Another instance was on the way from the Vāsukighāṭ to the Sūryaghāṭ beside the Bāgmatī river, which was venerated as a Śivapāduka. The markings are probably still there, but perhaps no longer venerated because that area has become polluted.

Bibliography

Publication currently in preparation by Dominic Goodall and Chloé Chollet.