The Sirpur copper-plate inscription, discovered in 1884 in the Khandesh region (north-western Maharashtra), is a fragmentary administrative record issued by mahārāja Rudradāsa. Engraved in the Brāhmī script and Sanskrit language, the single extant plate lacks its left margin, obscuring initial characters, and shows no evidence of a conventional seal. The record can be dated to the third lunar day of Vaiśākha, year 117 which corresponds with 18th April 367 CE.
Issued from Valkha, mahārāja Rudradāsa directs a mandate to his state officers, confirming royal assent for a perpetual land grant. Acknowledging an unnamed paramount sovereign, the feudatory ruler sanctions the transfer of an agrarian tract named Ghoṭakatala, previously held by Bhaṭṭi Vaidya. Situated on the western boundary of Vikaṭṭāṇaka within the Kaśapura subdivision, the property extends to the limits of Kohalaṭṭaka. The charter bestows this land as a brahmadeya upon the brāhmaṇa Droṇilaka of the Bharadvāja gotra, securing hereditary cultivation rights for the duration of the celestial bodies. The grant was executed by pratīhāra Doddhira who served as the dutaka.
1. valkhāḥ paramabhaṭṭarakapādānuddhyāto mahārājarudradasaḥ samā–
2. jñāpayati sarvvāṇevāsmadīyānayutakanvijñātamastu vaḥ samanu–
3. jānīmosya bharadvāja sagotradroṇilakabrāhmaṇasya kaśapurā-
4. ntargatavikaṭṭāṇakagrāmasyāparasīmāyām yā bhaṭṭivaidyapra-
5. tyayam kṣetram ghoṭakatalam nāma yāvatkohalaṭṭakasī–
6. māsāndhyam brahmadeyam śāśvatamācandrārkatārakākālīnam putra–
7. pautrānvayabhojyam bhogyam bhogāya evamidānī masyāsmābhiḥ kṛtanu–
8. jñasyaitakṣetram bhuñjataḥ kṛṣataścāsmatpakṣīyaiḥ samanuma–
9. ntavyamiti | pratihāradoddhiradūtakam || varṣe 100 10 7 vaiśākhatṛtīyāyām ||
Lines 1 to 7
From Valkha, mahārāja Rudradāsa, who meditates on the feet of the Great Lord (paramabhaṭṭāraka), issues the following order to all our officers:
Be it known to you that we hereby give our assent to the brahmadeya gift of a field, called Ghoṭakatala, which formerly belonged to Bhaṭṭi Vaidya. This field, situated on the western boundary of the village Vikaṭṭāṇaka, included in the Kaśapura subdivision, extending as far as the boundary of Kohalaṭṭaka, is granted to the brāhmaṇa Droṇīlaka of the Bhāradvāja gotra, to be enjoyed by him and by a succession of his sons and sons’ sons for all time, as long as the moon, the sun, and the stars endure.
Lines 8 and 9
Wherefore, all persons connected with us should consent to it while he is enjoying and cultivating that field, since he has now been permitted by us. This charter has been issued, pratihāra Doddhira being the dūtaka. In the year 117 (100 10 and 7), in the month of Vaiśākha, on the third lunar day.| Dynasty: | Valkhā |
| Ruler: | Rudradāsa |
| Date: | 18th April 367 CE (Vaiśākha 3, varṣa 117) |
| Donee: | Brāhmaṇa Drōṇilaka |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Script: | Brāhmī |
| Religion: | Hindu |
| Nature of grant: | Land donation |
| Purpose: | To record the gift of a field named Ghōṭakatala to brāhmaṇa Drōṇilaka |
| Provenance of inscription: | Sirpur, Chhattisgarh |
| Type of Inscription: | Copperplate grant |
| Source: |
Bibliography & Research
- Indraji, P. B. (1887). Sirpur Copper Plate Grant of Maharaja Rudradasa (J. F. Fleet & R. C. Temple, Eds.). Indian Antiquary, 16, 98-100.
- Mirashi, V. V. (Ed.). (1955). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Inscriptions of the Kalachuri Chedi Era. In (Vol. Vol 4 (Part 1), xxxv-xxxvii and 10-12. Archaeological Survey of India.
