Timmapuram plates of Viṣṇuvardhana I

Editor: Dániel Balogh.

Identifier: DHARMA_INSVengiCalukya00003.

Language: Sanskrit.

Repository: Eastern Cālukya (tfb-vengicalukya-epigraphy).

Version: (765e461), last modified (048f9d6).

Edition

Seal

⟨1⟩ (śrī-viṣa)masiddhiḥ

Plates

⟨Page 1r⟩

⟨Page 1v⟩ ⟨0⟩ svasti<dashHook>

⟨1⟩ śr(ī)mat-piṣṭapura{⟨⟨T⟩⟩}-vāsakā⟨⟨T⟩⟩⟨.⟩ sva-bhuja-vijita-danu-tanaya-m¿ā?⟨a⟩hā-senena m¿ā?⟨a⟩hā⟨2⟩senenābhivarddhitānān tribhuvana-mātr̥bhi⟦r abhira⟧⟨⟨r mmātr̥bhi⟩⟩r abhirakṣitānāṁ mānavya-sago⟨3⟩trāṇāṁ (hā)riti-putrāṇāṁ ca⟨lu⟩kyānāṁ anvayam unnamayitum asakr̥d anubh¿(u)?⟨ū⟩⟨4⟩ta-raṇa-rāgasya raṇarāga⟦(na)ptā⟧⟨⟨sya na⟩⟩ptāsahya-vikramasya raṇavikramasya pautr(o) ⟨5⟩ vipula-kīrtteḥ kīrttivarmaṇaḫ priya-sutaḥ śakti-traya-vaś¿i?⟨ī⟩kr̥ta-sakala-mahī-ma⟨6⟩ṇḍalasya saty¿a?⟨ā⟩śraya-vallabha-mahārājasya priyānujaḥ svāsidhā⟨⟨r¿a?⟨ā⟩-n¿ā?⟨a⟩⟩⟩mita-(sa)⟨Page 2r⟩⟨7⟩masta-sāmanta-maṇḍalaḥ sva-rūpa-guṇa-yauvana-śr¿ī?⟨i⟩yā dūram atiśay(ita)⟨8⟩-makara-dhvajaḥ sthala-jalādi-durgga-viṣameṣv api labdha-siddhitvād viṣamasiddhir a(rtthi)⟨9⟩-jana{ḥ}-⟨⟨(ni)⟩⟩tya-prasnuta-kāmadhenuḥ lokātiśaya-vikramatayā nara-loka-v(i)⟨10⟩⟦ma⟧⟨⟨kra⟩⟩ma⟨ḥ⟩ parama-bhāgavataḥ parama-brahmaṇyo mātā-pitr̥-pādānuddhy¿a?⟨ā⟩taḥ śrī-viṣṇuvarddha(na)⟨11⟩-m¿ā?⟨a⟩hārājaḥ|||

paḻaki-viṣaye⟨⟨(,)⟩⟩ kumūlūra nāma grāme pūrva-¡diśe!⟨diśi⟩ kṣetre ca⟨12⟩t⟨v⟩(ā)ri-sahasra-nivartanāni chedaṁ kr̥tvā, po(gganūra)-v¿a?⟨ā⟩stavyāy¿ā?⟨a⟩ catt¿a?⟨ā⟩līsa⟨Page 2v⟩⟨13⟩brāhmaṇaḥ nānā-g¿a?⟨o⟩tra-chandoga-sabrahmacāriṇe yama-niyama-pāragāya ṣaṭ-ka(rmma)⟨14⟩-niratāy¿ā?⟨a⟩ veda-pāragāya dattaḥ

⟨Page 3r⟩ ⟨Page 3v⟩

Apparatus

Seal

⟨1⟩ (śrī-viṣa)masiddhiḥ EH • I accept the reading of the seal as reported by Hultzsch, who repeats the ARIE report. In its present condition, the seal legend is entirely illegible.

Plates

⟨1⟩ -piṣṭapura{⟨⟨T⟩⟩}-vāsakā⟨⟨T⟩⟩ • The minuscule T glyphs (one above ra and another about the following sva) are rather indiscernible in my recent photographs, but quite clear in EH’s estampages. The initially inscribed text was clearly -piṣṭapura-vāsakā. I assume the engraver wished to correct thi to -piṣṭapura-vāsakāT and first engraved the addition in a wrong place. But as Hultzsch notes, it is also possible that the correction piṣṭapurāT was intended, or at least played a role in the process.

⟨2⟩ (hā)◯riti- • Eyeskip omission corrected by the engraver. — ⟨2⟩ mātr̥bhi⟦r abhira⟧⟨⟨r mmātr̥bhi⟩⟩r abhirakṣitānāṁ • Eyeskip omission corrected by the engraver.

⟨3⟩ (hā)◯riti- • Part of this character (and much a smaller part of the top of ra in the next line) has been obliterated by the hole, which seems to have grown from its original size, perhaps implying that the plates were opened and/or moved while hanging from the ring frequently enough for the ring to wear away the edge of the hole.

⟨4⟩ raṇarāga⟦naptā⟧⟨⟨sya na⟩⟩ptā • Hultzsch only notes that na is engraved over an earlier ptā.I think that in addition, sya was created by modifying an originally engraved na, since the right-hand end of the subscript y overlaps the left-hand side of the pre-correction p.

⟨6⟩ svāsidhā⟨⟨r¿a?⟨ā⟩-n¿ā?⟨a⟩⟩⟩mita- ⬦ svāsidhār(ā)-nāmita- EH • The characters ranā are engraved over a single pre-correction character, perhaps nā or ṇa.

⟨9⟩ ⟨⟨(ni)⟩⟩tya • The character ni was probably struck over something else, possibly ma or vā. — ⟨9⟩ v(i)⟨10⟩⟦ma⟧⟨⟨kra⟩⟩ma⟨ḥ⟩ • As Hultzsch notes, the composer’s intent may have been trivikramaḥ. This proposed emendation is not connected to the premodern correction present here.

⟨11⟩ -viṣaye⟨⟨(,)⟩⟩ kumūlūra • If this is a punctuation mark, as read by Hultzsch, then it must have been inserted subsequently into the space between ye and the following character. In spite of its tiny size it has a serif on top, which the earlier daṇḍas in the line lack, so perhaps the intent was something else; perhaps correction of ku into ke? — ⟨11⟩ ca⟨12⟩t⟨v⟩(ā)ri- ⬦ ca⟨12⟩(tvā)ri EH • The bottom left corner of the plate is worn away, but I am reasonably sure that there was no subscript v in the original.

⟨12⟩ sahasra-nivartanāni ⬦ sahasra-niva(rtta)nāni EH • Hultzsch also emends pedantically to nivarttana-sahasrāṇi — ⟨12⟩ po(gganūra) ⬦ (poṭunūṅka) EH.

Translation by Dániel Balogh

Seal

Plates

(1–11) Greetings! From the majestic residence at Piṣṭapura. The great-grandson of Raṇarāga, who repeatedly experienced the thrill of battle (raṇa-rāga) to elevate the lineage of the Calukyas—who are cherished by Mahāsena, who defeated the great army (mahā-sena) of the sons of Danu with his own arms, who are protected by the Mothers who are the mothers of the three worlds, who are of the Mānavya gotra, who are sons of Hāritī; the grandson of Raṇavikrama (Pulakeśin I) of irresistible valour; the dear son of Kīrtivarman or widespread fame; the dear younger brother of King (mahārāja) Satyāśraya Vallabha (Pulakeśin II) who subjugated the entire circle of the earth by means of his three powers (śakti-traya); [this is] His Majesty the supremely pious King (mahārāja) Viṣṇuvardhana (I), the supreme devotee of the Bhagavat (Viṣṇu), who was deliberately appointed (as heir) by his mother and father, who by the blade of his own sword forced the entire circle of subordinate rulers (sāmanta) to bow, who by his beauty, qualities and youth far surpasses the Crocodile-bannered [Kāma], who is [known as] Viṣamasiddhi because he prevails even over adverse (viṣama) [conditions, such as] forts on land, water and so on, who is a cow of plenty (kāma-dhenu) overflowing with milk for supplicants, who by his valour surpassing common folk is a Vikrama (Viṣṇu) in the world of men.

(11–14) [He, Viṣṇuvardhana I] has granted four thousand nivartanas—splitting [this land] off the field in the eastern direction of the village named Kumulūra in Paḻaki district (viṣaya)—to forty Brahmins who are residents of Pogganūra, of various gotras belonging to the Chandoga school, thoroughly dedicated to restraint (yama) and observance (niyama), engaged in the six duties (of a Brahmin) and versed in the Vedas.

Translation by Hultzsch 1907–1908

Seal

Plates

(1–4) Hail! From [his] residence in the prosperous Piṣṭapura,—the great-grandson1 of Raṇarāga, who repeatedly indulged in the passion of fighting in order to elevate the family of the Ca[lu]kyas, who were Hāritiputras, who belonged to the gotra of the Mānavyas, who were protected by the Mātr̥s, the mothers of the three worlds, [and] who were rendered prosperous by Mahāsena, who by his own arm had defeated the great army of the sons of Danu;

(4–6) —the grandson of Raṇavikrama, whose valour was insuperable; the dear son of Kīrtivarman, whose renown was extensive; [and] the dear younger brother of Satyāśraya-Vallabha-Mahārāja, who had subdued the circle of the whole earth by the triad of (regal) powers;

(6–11) —the devout worshipper of Bhagavat, the very pious one, who meditated at the feet of [his] mother and father,—Śrī-Viṣṇuvardhana-Mahārāja, who by the edge of his own sword humbled the circle of all the vassals, who by the splendour of his own beauty, virtues and youthfulness far surpassed Cupid, who [was surnamed] Viṣamasiddhi because he had obtained success (siddhi) in impassable straits (viṣama) on land, on sea, etc., who was a cow of plenty (kāmadhenu) constantly yielding milk to suppliants, [and] who was the [Tri]vikrama2 (Viṣṇu) of the world of men because his valour surpassed [that of all] mankind;

(11–14) —has granted four thousand nivartanas in the fields on the eastern side of the village named Kumulūra in the Paḻaki district (viṣaya), having portioned [them] off, to forty Brāhmaṇas of various gotras, residing in ¿Poṭunūṅka?, belonging to the school of the Chhandogas observing the greater and smaller rules, engaged in the six duties, [and] familiar with the Veda.

Translation into French by Estienne-Monod 2008

Seal

Plates

Depuis la résidence de l’illustre Piṣṭapura, l’arrière petit-fils de Raṇarāga, qui éprouva plus d’une fois le goût du combat pour éléver la lignée des Calukya, du même gotra que les descendants de Manu, eux à qui Mahāsena accorda la prospérité, qui par leur propre bras ont vaincu la grande armée des fils de Danu, protégés par les mères, mères des trois mondes, le petit-fils de Raṇavikrama à la vaillance insoutenable, le fils aimé de Kīrtivarman à la gloire immense, le frère cadet aimé du grand roi Satyāśraya Vallabha possesseur du cercle entier de la terre soumis par ses trois pouvoirs, lui devant la lame de l’épée duquel s’incline le cercle de tous les feudataires, lui qui par sa beauté, ses vertus, sa jeunesse et sa splendeur surpasse de loin le porteur de la bannière à makara, lui, (nommé) Viṣamasiddhi car il obtint la réussite dans l’adversité sur terre,3 sur mer, etc., vache des désirs dont le lait nourrit éternellement la foule des mendiants, Trivikrama du monde humain grâce à sa vaillance qui surpasse le monde (des hommes), excellent dévôt de Bhagavat, très pieux, méditant aux pieds de sa mère et de son père, l’illustre grand roi Viṣṇuvardhana, sur le terrain à l’est, dans village nommé Kumūlūra, dans le viṣaya de Paḻaki, a donné,4 après les avoir morcellés, quatre mille nivartana pour quarante brahmanes de divers gotra, résidant à Potuṇūṅka, appartenant à l’école de Chandoga, maîtrisant parfaitement les observances essentielles et secondaires, voué aux six devoirs, maîtrisant parfaitement les Veda.

Commentary

The findspot is recorded as Timmāpuram, Sarvasiddhi Taluk, Visakhapatnam District, Andhra Pradesh. I believe Sarvasiddhi Taluk should be NE of Kakinada, more or less corresponding to present-day Anakapalli district. Somasekhara Sarma (1955–1956, p. 131) identifies Kumulūru as Pedda Gummulūru (or the nearby Chinna Gummulūru) in Sarvasiddhi Taluk, located near Gudivada (also said to be in Sarvasiddhi Taluk by Somasekhara Sarma) and the findspot Timmapuram. The most likely place is around 17.43342446086503, 82.75163439357617, where the India Place Finder and Open Street Maps show a Timmapuram coterminous with (or part of) a Pedda Gummuluru (Pedha Gumuluru on Google Maps). A small village called Gudivada is located about 6 km SE of this, whereas the major town Gudivada is over 200 km to the SW.

Of the three plates, the third is blank on both sides. The text ends with the second line on 2v, apparently unfinished.

(0) The invocation svasti is in the left margin, level with the hole. It seems to have been engraved before the text, since characters at the beginning of line 3 give way to its i, and the first character of line 4 gives way to punctuation mark after it.

Bibliography

First reported in Venkayya 1908, p. 10, appendices A/1907-1908, № 2 with a description at Venkayya 1908, pp. 48–49. Edited from inked impressions by E. Hultzsch (1907–1908) with partial estampages5 and translation. Re-reported in Chandra 1957, p. 33, appendices A/1956-57, № 60. The present edition by Dániel Balogh is based on photographs taken by myself in February 2023 at the Government Museum, Chennai, collated with Hultzsch’s edition and his estampages where available.

Primary

[EH] Hultzsch, Eugen Julius Theodor. 1907–1908. “Timmapuram plates of Vishnuvardhana I. Vishamasiddhi.” EI 9, pp. 317–319.

Secondary

Venkayya, V. 1908. G.O. No. 574, 17th July 1908. Epigraphy. Recording the progress report of the Assistant Archaeological Superintendent for Epigraphy, Southern Circle, for the year 1907-1908. No place. Page 10, appendixes A/1907-1908, item 2.

Venkayya, V. 1908. G.O. No. 574, 17th July 1908. Epigraphy. Recording the progress report of the Assistant Archaeological Superintendent for Epigraphy, Southern Circle, for the year 1907-1908. No place. Pages 48–49.

Chandra, B.C. 1957. Annual report on Indian epigraphy for 1956-57. New Delhi: Manager of Publications (Department of Archaeology). Page 33, appendixes A/1956-57, item 60.

Notes

  1. 1. Hultzsch indicates that naptr̥ can have this meaning and points to parallels.
  2. 2. See the apparatus entry on this word in line 9.
  3. 3. Même glose du biruda que dans les insc. nos 11 et 13
  4. 4. La construction syntaxique est incorrecte : le donateur śrī-viṣṇuvarddhana-mahārājaḥ, qui devrait être l’agent, et le prédicat, dattaḥ sont au nominatif masculin singulier, de plus le prédicat n’est pas accordé à son sujet, qui est au neutre pluriel, nivarttana-sahasrāni.
  5. 5. Only estampages of 1v and 2r are included in the 1981 reprint of Epigraphia Indica; there is no image of 2v, nor of the seal.