Mayidavōlu copper plates, time of Śiva-Skandavarman, year 10

Editor: Emmanuel Francis.

Identifier: DHARMA_INSPallava00002.

Summary: Grant (brahmadeya), with all exemptions, of the village of Viriparam to two Brahmins.

Language: Prakrit.

Repository: Pallava (tfa-pallava-epigraphy).

Version: (731357b), last modified (54578b7).

Edition

Seal

⟨1⟩ śivaska[davarmmaṇaḥ]

Plates

⟨Page 1r⟩ ⟨01⟩ diṭhaṁ

⟨Page 1v⟩ ⟨1v1=1⟩ [kāṁ]cīpurāto yuvamahāraj(o) ⟨1v2=2⟩ bhāradāya-sagotto palavānaṁ ⟨Page 2r⟩⟨left: 2⟩ ⟨2r1=3⟩ sivakha(ṁ)davammo dhaṁñakaḍe ⟨2r2=4⟩ vāpataṁ Ānapayati

⟨Page 2v⟩ ⟨2v1=5⟩ Amhehi dāni Amha-vejayike ⟨2v2=6⟩ (dhaṁ)māyu-bala-vadhanike ya ⟨Page 3r⟩⟨left: 3⟩ ⟨3r1=7⟩ bamhanānaṁ Agivesa-sagottasa ⟨3r2=8⟩ puvakoṭujasa Ag¿ī?⟨i⟩vesa-sagottasa ⟨Page 3v⟩ ⟨3v1=9⟩ gonaṁdijasa Aṁdhāpa¿t?⟨th⟩īya-gāmo ⟨3v2=10⟩ [vi]r(i)[pa]raṁ Amhehi Udakādiṁ ⟨Page 4r⟩⟨left: 4⟩ ⟨4r1=11⟩ saṁpadato

Etasa gāmasa ⟨4r2=12⟩ viriparasa sava-bamhadeya⟨Page 4v⟩⟨4v1=13⟩pa(r)i(h)āro vitarāma A-lona-khādakaṁ ⟨4v2=14⟩ A-raṭha-saṁv(i)nāyikaṁ A-paraṁparā-baliva⟨daṁ⟩ ⟨Page 5r⟩⟨left: 5⟩ ⟨5r1=15⟩ A-bhaḍa-papesaṁ A-kūra-colaka⟨5r2=16⟩vināsi-khaṭ¿a?⟨ā⟩-saṁvāsaṁ

Etehi ⟨Page 5v⟩ ⟨5v1=17⟩ Anehi ca sava-bamha⟨5v2=18⟩deya-majādāya ⟨Page 6r⟩⟨left: 6⟩ ⟨6r1=19⟩ savaparihārehi parihārito

⟨6r2=20⟩ pariharatha parih(ā)r¿(ā)?⟨a⟩petha ca

⟨Page 6v⟩ ⟨6v1=21⟩ jo Amha-sāsanaṁ Atichi⟨6v2=22⟩tūna pīlā bādhā karejo {(vā)} ⟨Page 7r⟩⟨left: 7⟩ ⟨7r1=23⟩ {(ta)} kārāpejo vā tasa Amho ⟨7r2=24⟩ sārīraṁ sāsanam karejāmo

⟨Page 7v⟩ ⟨7v1=25⟩ sa(ṁ)vacharaṁ dasamaṁ 10 gimhā(naṁ) ⟨7v2=26⟩ pakho chaṭo 6 divasaṁ paṁcami 5

⟨Page 8r⟩⟨left: 8⟩ ⟨8r1=27⟩ Ānatī sayatti

dattā ⟨8r2=28⟩ paṭṭikā

⟨Page 8v⟩

Apparatus

Seal

⟨1⟩ śivaska[davarmmaṇaḥ] ⬦ śivaska(davarmmaṇaḥ) Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • Hultzsch1900-1901_01 quotes the description of the seal by Venkayya: “The seal bears in relief an animal couchant and facing the proper right—apparently a bull, as it has a hump on its back—and below it, the legend śivaska[ndavarmmaṇaḥ?] in an alphabet which appears to be slightly different from that of the inscription. The bull and the legend are enclosed in a circle which is partially preserved.”

Plates

⟨1⟩ [kāṁ]cīpurāto ⬦ [kāṁ]cīpurāto Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • Read kāñcīpurato or kāñcīpurāt. As noted by Hultzsch1900-1901_01, “[t]he first syllable of this word is almost entirely obliterated, but can be supplied with certainty from line 1 of the Hīrahaḍagalli plates.” • DCS reads siddham before this word, but there are no trace of it. — ⟨1⟩ yuvamahāraj(o) ⬦ yuvamahārajo Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • compare with jo in line 21.

⟨6⟩ ya ⬦ ¿y?⟨c⟩a IP.

⟨10⟩ [vi]r(i)[pa]raṁ ⬦ (viripa)raṁ Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • As noted by Hultzsch1900-1901_01, this placename is clearly legible in line 12. — ⟨10⟩ Amhehi • DCS suggests to delete this word as redundant compared to its occurrence already in line 5.

⟨13⟩ pa(r)i(h)āro ⬦ pa(r)i(hā)ār¿o?⟨e⟩ Hultzsch1900-1901_01. — ⟨13⟩ °khādakaṁ ⬦ °khādakaṁ Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • Alternative possible readings are °khāḍakaṁ and °khāṭakaṁ.

⟨20⟩ parih(ā)r¿(ā)?⟨a⟩petha ⬦ pariharāpetha Hultzsch1900-1901_01 DCS.

⟨22⟩ bādhā ⬦ bādh(ā) Hultzsch1900-1901_01. — ⟨22⟩ karejo ⬦ karejjā Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • According to Hultzsch1900-1901_01, “[t]he group jjā in karejjā (l. 22) and kārāpejjā (l. 23) is identical in shape with jo (l. 21)” whereas “[i]n the Hīrahaḍagalli plates the jjā of kārāpejjā (l. 40) differs from the jo of °rājo (l. 2)”. — ⟨22⟩ {vā ⟨7r1=23⟩ ta} ⬦ {(vā) ⟨7r1=23⟩ (ta)} Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • These two letters are possibly crossed-out by the engraver. Hultzsch1900-1901_01 notes about vā at the end of line 22: “This akṣara and the first akṣara of the next plate seem to have been scored out by the engraver, who had omitted karapejjā and had begun to write vā tasa, but found out his mistake when he had got as far as ta.” Note also that the letter ta in this occurrence is the only case in the whole set where a letter is engraved above the binding hole. — ⟨22⟩ kārāpejo ⬦ kārāpejjā Hultzsch1900-1901_01.

⟨25⟩ gimhā(naṁ) ⬦ gimhā(naṁ) Hultzsch1900-1901_01 • Hultzsch1900-1901_01 points to parallels in inscriptions in Nāsik (no. 11, line 12; no. 14, line 1).

Translation by Hultzsch1900-1901_01

Seal

⟨This edict⟩ has been seen.1

Plates

(1) From Kañcīpura the yuvamāhāraja Śivaskandavarman ⟨of the family⟩ of the Pallavas,2 who belongs to the gotra of the Bhāradvājas, orders ⟨his⟩ official (vyāpṛta) at Dhaññakaḍa3 ⟨as follows⟩:—

(5) For conferring on ourselves victory ⟨in war⟩4 and for increasing ⟨our⟩ merit, length of life, and power, we have now given, with libations of water, the village of Viripara in Andhrāpatha to the ⟨two⟩ Brāhmaṇas Puvakoṭuja of the Āgniveśya gotra and Gonandija5 of the Āgniveśya gotra.

(11) To this village of Viripara we grant all the immunities ⟨enjoyed by⟩ brahmadeyas.

(13) ⟨Let it be⟩ free from diggings for salt,6 araṭhasaṁvināyika, free from ⟨the supply of⟩ bullocks in succession,7 free from the entrance of soldiers, free from ⟨the supply of⟩ boiled rice, water-pots, …8 cots and dwellings.9

(16) With these and all the other immunitics ⟨prescribed⟩ by the rules regarding all brahmadeyas ⟨we have⟩ caused it to be exempted.

(20) ⟨Accordingly⟩ you10 have to exempt ⟨it⟩ and cause ⟨it⟩ to be exempted.

(21) Who, transgressing our edict, shall give or shall cause to be given trouble ⟨and⟩ annoyance11 ⟨to the donees⟩, on him we shall inflict bodily punishment.

(25) The tenth—10th—year, the sixth—8th—fortnight of summer, the fifth—5th—lunar day.

(27) The executor (ājṉapti) ⟨was⟩ myself. Accordingly ⟨this⟩ set of plates (paṭṭikā) has been given ⟨to the donees⟩.

Translation into French by Emmanuel Francis

Seal

(1) De Śivaska[ndavarman]

Plates

(01) Vu.12

(1–4) De Kāñcīpuram, le yuvamahārāja Śivaskandavarman ⟨de la famille⟩ des Pallava et du gotra des Bhāradvāja ordonne à l’officier en charge à Dhānyakaṭa:

(5–11) “Viriparam, village de l’Andhrāpatha, a été désormais donné avec aspersion d’eau, par nous, en vue de notre victoire et de l’accroissement du dharma, de la santé et de la force, aux brahmanes Puvakoṭuja 13 du gotra d’Agniveśa et Gonandija 14 du gotra d’Agniveśa.”

(11–16) “A ce village de Viripara nous accordons toutes les exemptions propres à un brahmadeya : l’interdiction de le creuser pour du sel, l’exclusion de l’autorité régionale (a-raṭha-saṁvināyika ?), l’interdiction d’en saisir des bœufs d’attelage, l’interdiction d’y entrer pour les soldats et l’interdiction d’en saisir du riz cuit, des pots d’eau, du combustible (vināsi ?), des lits, des maisons.”

(16–19) “Il est exempté de toutes les exemptions, celles-ci et les autres, conformément à l’usage valable pour tous les brahmadeya.”

(20) “Exemptez-le et faites-le exempter !”

(21–24) “Celui qui, enfreignant notre ordre, causerait ou ferait causer des ennuis ou dommages ⟨à cette donation⟩, nous lui infligerons un châtiment corporel.”

(25–26) “Dixième (10) année, sixième (6) quinzaine de l’été, cinquième (5) jour.”

(27) “Exécution : nous-mêmes.”

(27–28) Des tablettes ont été données.

Commentary

For a description of the Prakrit language of this grant, see Hultzsch1900-1901_01 (EI 6, no. 8, p. 85-86), Mehendale 1948.

Bibliography

Edited in Hultzsch1900-1901_01 (EI 6.8) with facsimile and English translation; text and sanskritised text in Sircar 1965 with facsimile; text and summary in Mahalingam 1988 (IP 2).

Edited here by Emmanuel Francis (2023), based on published estampages and photos of the original plates in the Chennai Government Museum (2008).

Primary

Hultzsch1900-1901_01

[DCS] Sircar, Dines Chandra. 1965. Select inscriptions bearing on Indian history and civilization. Volume I: from the sixth century B.C. to the sixth century A.D. 2nd edition revised and enlarged. Calcutta: University of Calcutta. Pages 457–461.

[IP] Mahalingam, T. V. 1988. Inscriptions of the Pallavas. New Delhi; Delhi: Indian Council of Historical Research; Agam Prakashan. Pages 31–34, item 2.

Secondary

Francis, Emmanuel. 2013. Le discours royal dans l'Inde du Sud ancienne : inscriptions et monuments Pallava, IVème-IXème siècles. Tome I : Introduction et sources. Publications de l'Institut orientaliste de Louvain 64. Louvain-la-Neuve; Paris: Université catholique de Louvain, Institut orientaliste; Peeters. Item IR 2.

Mehendale, M.A. 1948. Historical grammar of inscriptional Prakrits. Poona: Deccan College, Postgraduate and Research Institute. Pages xvi, 107–108.

Notes

  1. 1. With the word diṭhaṁ or, in Sanskrit, dṛṣṭam we have to supply idaṁ śāsanam. It is the equivalent of the modern ‘true copy’ or ‘examined’ at the foot of official letters and Government orders. For a different explanation of dṛṣṭaṁ see above, Vol. III [i.e. EI 3], p. 259.
  2. 2. For other instances of this elliptical use of the genitive see above, Vol. IV [i.e. EI 4], p. 197, note 6, and Vol. VI [i.e. EI 6], pp. 15 and 19.
  3. 3. Compare ānapayati govadhane amaca in the Nāsik inscriptions Nos. 11, A and 15.
  4. 4. The corresponding word in the Hīrahaḍagalli plates, vijaya-vejayike (l. 9), is omitted in Professor Bühler’s translation (Ep. Ind. Vol. I, p. 8).
  5. 5. I.e. Gonandyārya. Compare nandija in line 21 of the Hīrahaḍagalli plates.
  6. 6. This term and the next one occur in the Nāsik inscriptions Nos. 11, A, 11, B and 15.
  7. 7. Compare line 33 of the Hīrahaḍagalli plates.
  8. 8. vināsi, left untranslated.
  9. 9. With the last term compare a-khaṭvā-vāsaudanam (above [i.e. EI 6], p. 14, text line 8), and see line 31 of the Hīrahaḍagalli plates, where the photo-lithograph reads °akūra° and not akara° as the printed text. The word colaka or yollaka is probably related to cullakī, ‘a kind of water-pot;’ vināsi or vinesi remains obscure.
  10. 10. Viz. the inhabitants and officials of the district, etc. See line 35 of the Hīrahaḍagalli plates, and Ind. Ant. Vol. IX, p. 101, I. 10 f, where Professor Bühler’s improved reading (Ep. Ind. Vol. I, p. 2, note 2) has to be further corrected by reading with the photo-lithograph pariharatha parihārapetha. The translation would then run:— "Knowing this, you, the villagers ⟨and⟩ officials, exempt ⟨it and⟩ cause ⟨it⟩ to be exempted with all the immunities !" In line 7 of Dr. Fleet’s text join mahānarakadevakula, and in line 6 f. read ātukasa kasita . . chettaṁ "the . . . . field ploughed by Ātuka."
  11. 11. Here and in the Hīrahaḍagalli plates (l. 40) one would expect the acc. sing. pīlaṁ bādhaṁ instead of the acc. plur. pīlā bādhā.
  12. 12. C’est-à-dire « Vérifié ».
  13. 13. Sanskrit Puvakoṭvārya.
  14. 14. Sanskrit Gonandyārya