Orissa State Museum plates of Mahāśivagupta Yayāti year 4

Author of digital edition: Amandine Wattelier-Bricout (amwb).

Summary: Gift of the village called Kuḍukul Okhaṇḍakṣetra included in the Gaṇḍitama viṣaya in the Uḍra deśa to the Brahmin Kāko, son of Madhu and grandson of Dāmodaram belonged to the Kauśika gotra with the three pravaras, immigrated fromŚrāvasthālekhaṇḍiyagrāma and permanent resident of the royal camp. Written with the knowledge of the Mahāsandhivigrahin Rāṇaka Cchichaṭeśvara and at the behest of the Mahākṣapaṭala Śāntināga, engraved by Pannāka

Language: Sanskrit (san) [Latin (latin)].

Repository: Somavaṁśin (tfb-somavamsin-epigraphy).

Identifier: DHARMA_INSSomavamsin00017.

File path: texts/DHARMA_INSSomavamsin00017.xml.

Version: (39eae9b), last modified (83ffe7e).

Edition

⟨Page 1v⟩

⟨1⟩ siddham vasti śrī-vin¿i?tapurāt{a} samāvā¡ś!ita-śrīmato vijaya-kaṭakāt{a} (sva)-

⟨2⟩ sty astu samasta-śatru-nṛpati-prāra¡v!d⟨h⟩a-sevā-vidhi-vyagrākāra-vinīta-dūra-nici¿tasyāmāgramā?-

⟨3⟩ (d)vārataḥ| dharmmārthocita-śāstra-niścita-naya-vyāpāra-paura-prajākhyātāmātya-(ma)-

⟨4⟩ tād vinītapuratonvartha-prasiddhāhvayāt{a}∥ somādi-svakulodgata-kṣiti¿r?ujām devatva-

⟨5⟩ bhājam api kṣmāyāś cātma-manobhivañchita-pratiprāpsānurūpa-śriyaḥ| nāgānā-

⟨6⟩ m a¿tra?bhūta-sauhṛdajuṣām ākasmikānu¿m?ra(hā) yajñātmā prahaṇa-kṣaṇas tribhuvan¿e?-kṣe-

⟨7⟩ māya-lakṣitaḥ| prakhyātākhya-yudhiṣṭhirānvaya-mahā-siṅghāṁhasanā-

⟨8⟩ rohaṇa-vyāp{y}ārāvasarāhitotsava-man¿o? lokābhinandyodayaḥ niḥ-

⟨9⟩ śeṣāgama-tat⟨t⟩va-vetṛ-vimala-prajñā-¡v!lālaṁkṛtaḥ sphūrjja¿ts?auryya-vinirjjitorjji-

⟨10⟩ ta-ripu-kṣmāpāka-velodyamaḥ∥ sapta-dvīpa-vibhūṣaṇaṁ kṣititalaṁ yad-[…]-

⟨11⟩ yālaṁkṛtaṁ tat-prota-sthita-somarāja-vibhutām dhatte ttamanyaidyaitaḥ| devaḥ śrī-jana-

⟨12⟩ mejayas tad-adhunā tatrāvatīrya svayaṁ ta⟨t⟩ kuryām iti yaḥ kṛtāvataraṇaḥ sa śrī-yayā-

⟨13⟩ ti-prabhuḥ∥ parama-māhe¡s!vara-paramabhaṭṭāraka-mahārājādhirāja-parame-

⟨14⟩ (śva)ra-soma-kula-tilaka-trikaliṅgādhipati-śrī-mahābhavagupta-rā-

⟨Page 2r⟩

⟨15⟩ jadeva-pādānudhyāyī∥ parama-māhe⟨śva⟩ra-paramabhaṭṭāraka-mahārājādhirāja-

⟨16⟩ -parameśvara-soma-kula-tilaka-trikaliṅgādhipati-śrī-mahāśivagupta-rā-

⟨17⟩ jadevaḥ kuśalī| uḍra-deśe| gaṇḍitama-viṣaya-kuḍukulokhaṇḍa-kṣetre

⟨18⟩ tad-viṣayīya-¡v!rāhmaṇān āyukta-yathākālādhyāyinaḥ samāhatr̥-s{v}annidhātr̥-ni-

⟨19⟩ yuktakādhikārika-dāṇḍa-pā¡s!ika-cāṭa-bhāṭa-pi¡s!una vet¡r̥!kāvarodhajana-rāṇaka-rā-

⟨20⟩ japutra-rājavallabhādīn{a} samājñāpayat¿ī? viditam astu bhavatāṁ| yathāsmābhi-

⟨21⟩ r aya⟨ṁ⟩ grāmaḥ sanidhiḥ sopānidhiḥ sadaśāparādhaḥ sarvva-¡v!ā-

⟨22⟩ dhāvivarjjitaḥ ⟨sa⟩rvvoparikarādāna-sahita{ḥ} ścatuḥ-sīmā-parya-

⟨23⟩ ntaḥ s¿a?mvra-madh¿u?kaḥ sagartoṣaraḥ sa-ja⟨la⟩-sthala-sahitaḥ ¿dva?cāṭa-bhāṭa-prave¡s!aka-

⟨24⟩ ḥ| kau¡s!ika-gotr¿ā?tririṣaya-pravarāya śrāvasthālekhaḍiyā-grāma-vinirggatā-

⟨25⟩ ya| ya¡s!akaṭaka-vāstavyāya bhaṭaputra-dāmodara-naptre madhu-sutāya| śrī-kā-

⟨26⟩ ko-nāmne saliladhārā-purassaraṁ Ācandra-tārakārka-kṣiti-samakālopabho-

⟨27⟩ gārthaṁ mātā-pitror ātmanaś ca puṇya-yaśo ’bhivr̥ddhaye t{r}āmra-śāsanenākarīkr̥-

⟨28⟩ tya pratipādita Ity avagatya yathā-dīyamāna-kara-bhara-hira(ṇya)-bhoga-bhāgā-

⟨29⟩ (dikaṁ) ca dadadbhiḥ bhavadbhiḥ sukhena prati-vastavyam iti∥ bhā-

⟨30⟩ bhāvibhiś ca bhūpatibhir dattir iyam asmadīyā dharmma-gauravād asmad anurodhāc ca svadatti-

⟨31⟩ r ivānupālanīyā| tathā coktaṁ dharmmaśāstre ¡v!ahubhir vvasudhā dattā rājabhis sagar(ā)-

⟨32⟩ dibhiḥ yasya yasya yadā bhūmis tasya tasya tadā phalaṁ mā bhūd a-phala-¡s!a(ṅkā)

⟨33⟩ vaḥ para-datteti (pārthivāḥ) s(va)-dānāt phalam ā¿nu?ntyaṁ para-dattānupālane| Ā-

⟨34⟩ sphoṭayanti (pitaraḥ) (pravalganti) pitāmahāḥ bhūmidātā kule jātaḥ sa

⟨35⟩ nas trātā bhaviṣyati∥ saṣṭiṁ varṣa–sahasrāṇi svargge modati bhūmid¿ā?ḥ Ākṣeptā

⟨36⟩ cānumantā ca dvau tau naraka-gāminau| Ag(n)er apatyaṁ prathamaṁ su-

⟨37⟩ (varṇṇaṁ) (bhūr) vaiṣṇavī sūrya-sutāś ca gāvaḥ yaḥ kāñcanaṅ gāṁ ca ⟨ma⟩hīñ ca

⟨38⟩ (da)dyāt dattās trayas tena bhavanti lokāḥ∥ bhūmiṁ yaḥ pratigr̥hṇāti yaś ca bhūmiṁ

⟨39⟩ prayacchati Ubhau tau puṇya-karmmāṇau niyata⟨ṁ⟩ s⟨v⟩argga-gāminau∥ taḍāgā-

⟨40⟩ nāṁ sahasreṇa vājapeya-śatena ca gavāṁ koṭi-pradānena bhūmi-harttā na ¡s!udhya-

⟨41⟩ ti∥ (hareta) hārayed yas tu manda-¡v!uddhis tamo-vr̥taḥ su¡v!addho vāruṇai(ḥ) pā¡s!aiḥ

⟨42⟩ tiryag-yoniṁ ca gacchati∥ suvarṇṇam ekaṁ gām ekāṁ bhūmer apy arddham aṅgulaṁ| haran narakam āyā-

⟨43⟩ ti yāvad—ā-bhūta-saṁplavaM sva-dattāṁ para-dattām vā yo hareta vasundharāṁ|

⟨Page 3r⟩

⟨44⟩ (sa vi)ṣṭhāyāṁ kr̥mir bhūtvā pitr̥bhiḥ saha pacyate∥ Ādityo varuṇo viṣṇur ¡v!rahmā so-

⟨45⟩ mo hutāśanaḥ śūlapāṇiś ca bhagavān abhinandanti bhūmidaṁ∥ sāmānyo ’yaṁ dharmma-

⟨46⟩ -setur nr̥pā¡n!āṁ kāle kāle pālanīyo bhavadbhiḥ sarvvān etān bhāvinaḥ pārthi-

⟨47⟩ vendrān bhūyo bhūyo yācate rāmabhadraḥ∥ Iti kamala-dalām¡v!u-¡v!indu-lolāṁ śri-

⟨48⟩ yam anucintya manuṣya-jīvitañ ca sakalam idam udāhr̥tañ ca ¡v!¿e?ddhvā na hi puruṣaiḥ para-

⟨49⟩ -kīrttayo villopyāḥ∥ parama-māhe¡s!vara-paramabhaṭṭāraka-mahārājā-

⟨50⟩ dhirāja-parame¡s!vara-soma-kula-tilaka-trikaliṅgādhipati-

⟨51⟩ -śrīmad-yayāti-rājadeva-vijaya-rājye caturtha-s¿ām?tsarī-

⟨52⟩ ya-kārttika-māsa-sita-pakṣa-pañcamyāṁ ankatoḥ samvat kārttika-

⟨53⟩ śudi 5 likhitam idaṁ tāmra-¡s!āsana⟨ṁ⟩ m¿ā?hāsāndhivigrahi-rāṇa-

⟨54⟩ ka-śrī-cchichaṭe¡s!varasyāvagatena| mahā Ākṣapaṭala-śrī-śānti-

⟨55⟩ nāgābhimatena∥ śrī-pannākena utkīrṇṇam idam iti∥

Translation by Rajaguru 1966

Om. Hail! From the prosperous and victorious town of Vinītapura, -

1.

where all enemy-kings remain alert in performing their respectives services (which they owe to their over-lord) in humble manner so that the capital-town (Vinītapura) appears like an āśrama (where hermits live), where from they (the enemy kings) convey their desires (to their over-lord), which place (Vinītapura) is thus named by learned ministers who attained excellent popularity among the citizens (pauraprajā) by their award of justice, based on sound principles of Dharmaśāstras and Arthaśāsatras; (it is announced that) :

2.

those kings (in this glorious royal family) being born from Soma (Moon), who have (already) attained spiritual figures (after death) in the celestial world (and from whom) several enemy-kings had become recipients of wealth and charities in accordance to their desires; (for instance) the Nāgas (or the kings of the Nāga family) received their (Viz. the ex-monarchs of the Somavaṁśa) immediate support (and) help (at the time of need) which they (the Somavaṁśi kings) had taken (as matters of) great jubilation (ucchava) and which (action action those kings) had been deemed by people as a reward to the mankind for sustenance of their happiness in all the three worlds.

3.

A celebration of splendour (which the world had taken place, a parallel event of exultation had been experienced (by people of the Kosala country) when the royal throne (of Kosala) was occupied by the great king Janamejaya, whose adorable glory had become a subject of hearty welcome of the public, whose prowess and valour and determination are charming (and they have been) based on flawlessness whose commendable personality (and) power had taken the shape of luminary to dispel the gloom caused by the enemies;

4.

whose mercy (and) charity have produced excellent results in all the seven islands (world) (and) who acquired many great qualities or property (vibhūti) equal to those of Somarāja (the moon), who os (considered to be) the Janamejaya (son of the epic king Parikṣita) himself incarnated (in the Kali age)

From him is born the illustrious king Yayāti who, at present, accomplished similar glorious deeds as his father (Janamejaya) had done.

The most devout worshipper, the P.P.M.P, the ornament of the Somakula, the lord of Trikaliṅga, Mahāśivaguptarājadeva, who meditates on the feet of the P.M.P. the ornament of the Somakula, the lord of Trikaliṅga, Mahābhavaguptarājadeva being in good health issues a command to the inhabitants and officials like Samāhartṛ, Sannidhātṛ, etc. of the district of Gaṇḍitama viṣaya of Odhra-deśa, to the effect that the village called Kuḍukulo-khaṇḍa-kṣetra, has been given by him with all the rights on trees, on water, on lands and on collecting taxes from the cultivatoirs and also making it free from oppressions by regular and irregular troops, by this charter, -

"Be it Known to you that for the increase of the religious merit and glory of our father, mother and ourselves this village is granted, free from all assessments, by us with libations of water, to be enjoyed as long as the moon, the stars, the sun, the world would endure, - to Śṛīkāko, son of Madhu and grandson of Bhaṭṭaputra Dāmodara who belonged to the Kauśika gotra, three ṛśi pravara and who migrated frin Likhaḍa village of Śrāvasthi and an inhabitant of Sadākaṭaka."

[then folloz the usual verses quoted from the dharmaśastra]

The grant is made in the 4th regnal year of the king, P.M.P. Śrī Yayātirājadeva on the 5th day of the bright fortnight of the month Kārttika, at the instance of the Rāṇaka Śrī Chhichhaṭeśvara, the sandhivigrahin, and at the consent of the Mahākṣapaṭala Śrī Sāntināga. It is engraved by Śrī Yallāka.

Bibliography

The plates are preserved in the Odisha State Museum. The photos are available here

Primary

[R] Rajaguru, Satyanarayan. 1966. Inscriptions of Orissa, vol. 4. No place: Sri Sarada Press. [URL]. Item 26, pages 159–166.

[Sri] Srinivasan, P. R. 1969–1970. “A Grant of Mahasivagupta I-Yayati, Year 4.” EI 38, pp. 186–191.

[Sha] Shastri, Ajay Mitra. 1995. Inscriptions of the Śarabhapurīyas, Pāṇḍuvaṁśins and Somavaṁśins, Part II: Inscriptions. New Delhi: Indian Council of Historical Research; Motilal Bandarsidass. Item XII, pages 219–225.

Secondary

Gai, Govind Swamirao. 1986. Dynastic list of copper plate inscriptions noticed in annual reports on Indian epigraphy from 1887 to 1969. Mysore: Archaeological Survey of India. Item 951.

Tripathy, Snigdha. 2010. Descriptive topographical catalogue of Orissan inscriptions. New Delhi: Manohar. Pages 142–143.

Acharya, Subrata Kumar. 2014. Copper-plate inscriptions of Odisha: a descriptive catalogue (circa fourth century to sixteenth century CE). New Delhi: D. K. Printworld. Page 254.