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Inscription by: Kalacuri
Abhoṇa Plates of Śaṅkaragaṇa
  • Kalacuri
  • 3rd August 597 CE (Śrāvaṇa, śukla 15, varṣa 347)
  • Copper Plate
  • Land Grant
  • Religious
  • Abhona, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 38-44.
Introduction

The Abhona copper-plate inscription, discovered in the Nashik district, Maharashtra, is an administrative charter issued by the Kalacuri ruler Śaṅkaragaṇa. Engraved on two plates in the Brāhmī script, the language being Sanskrit, the text dates to the fifteenth tithi of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa of the year 347 which corresponds to 3rd August 597 CE. 

Issued from Ujjayanī (modern Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh), king Śaṅkaragaṇa, a devout Śaiva and ruler of the expanse between the eastern and western oceans, directed an administrative to his state officials. The charter records the donation of one hundred nivartanas of land within the village of Vallisikā in the Bhogavardhana district. Granted at the request of Goggā, the land is bestowed upon a resident of Kallivana, brāhmaṇa Svāmin of the Gautama gotra and student of the Taittiriya śākhā. Exempt from standard taxes and forced labor, the endowment provisions the daily performance of Vedic sacrifices including bali, caru, vaiśvadeva, and agnihotra. Mahāpīlupati Pāśupata served as the dūtaka, and sāndhivigrahika Vāṭyali drafted the edict.

Translation
See Original

Lines 1 to 9

Success! Hail! From the victorious camp pitched at Ujjayanī:

In the family of the Kaṭaccuris, which, resembling the great ocean, is stainless and extensive like the firmament clear on the advent of autumn; which is made resplendent by the multitude of the manifold excellences of the men (born in it) as the ocean is by the mass of the rays of its gems; which is difficult to overcome, being the resort of men of great courage, as the ocean is difficult to cross, being the asylum of large animals; which is endowed with serenity (and) is intent on observing the rules of moral conduct as the ocean is deep and is determined to remain within its bounds; (there was) the illustrious Kṛṣṇarāja, who brightened the world with his fame which, like moonlight, attracted the minds of all people; who, from his very birth was devoted to Paśupati (Śiva), revived the prosperity of his family (and therefore, though) free from (all) defects, resembled the moon, (which has spots), which rests on Śiva and revives the beauty of clusters of night-lotuses. He was resorted to by all attractive royal qualities and other excellences as if out of a desire to find a choice resting place, was possessed of all the constituents of royalty (and) had properly acquired royal powers and attained successes. Shining with his illustrious lineage, with the flow of his charity always unchecked, and the greatness of his prowess well known, he conquered the regions marching about fearlessly, even as the leader of a herd of wild elephants, who looks splendid with his excellent back-bone, has an ever unceasing flow of rut and well-known might of strength, brings down rows of forest-trees, moving about fearlessly. He wielded his weapon (only) for the protection of the distressed, fought (only) for humbling the arrogance of his enemies, was engaged in study (only) for humility, acquired wealth (only) to spend it in charity, made gifts (only) for the sake of religious merit, and accumulated religious merit (only) to secure final liberation.

Lines 10 to 16

His son, the illustrious Śaṅkaragaṇa, who meditates on the feet of (his) mother and father; who is a devout worshipper of Maheśvara; who is the lord of the countries bounded by the eastern and western oceans and of other lands; who has, on the earth, no adversary (worthy of him); whose fame has tasted the waters of the four oceans; whose prowess equals that of Dhanada (i.e., Kubera), Varuṇa, Indra and Antaka (i.e., Yama); who, by the might of his arms, has acquired the fortune of powerful kings; to whom the circle of neighbouring princes has submitted, (being subdued) by his great prowess; who is engaged in the acquisition of religious merit, wealth and pleasure, which (in his case) never come into conflict with one another; whose serene and noble heart is highly pleased by mere submission; who has performed religious rites by spending, in charity, plenty of wealth which he had obtained by properly protecting his subjects; who has reinstated royal families, which had long been dethroned; who has exterminated such as had risen too high; who bestows, on the distressed, blind and poor people, abundant gifts which exceed their desires, issues this order to kings, feudatories, Bhogikas, heads of viṣayas, mahāttaras of rāṣṭras and villages, officials and others:

Lines 17 to 22

Be it known to you! For the increase of religious merit and fame of our mother and father and of ourself, we have granted, with a libation of water, at the request of Goggā, land measuring a hundred nivartanas by a land measure (nivartanin) of forty (daṇḍas) on either side, in the village Vallisikā, situated in the viṣaya of Bhogavardhana, together with all receipts and exempt from all gifts, forced labour and special rights, (which is) not to be entered by cāṭas and bhaṭas according to the maxim of waste land and (is) to be enjoyed by a succession of sons and son’s sons as long as the moon, the sun, the ocean and the earth will endure, to the brāhmaṇa Svāmin of the Gautama gotra (who is) a student of the Taittirīya (śākhā) and a resident of Kallivana, for the performance of bali, caru, vaiśvadeva, agnihotra and other religious rites.

Lines 23 to 26

Wherefore, (future) kings and heads of bhogas, whether born in our family or others, considering that (this) world of living beings is unsteady like the waves of the water of the ocean tossed by a strong wind, that wealth is liable to be lost (and, therefore,) worthless, and that virtues (alone) endure for a long time, and desiring to share in the reward of this donation of land which can be equally enjoyed (by them) and to accumulate for a long time fame as lovely as moon-beams, should consent to this our gift and preserve it! Whoever, with his mind shrouded by the veil of the darkness of ignorance confiscates it or allows it to be confiscated, shall incur the five great sins!

Lines 27 to 32

And it has been said by the holy Vyāsa, the redactor of the Vedas:

(Here follow five benedictive and imprecatory verses.)

Lines 33 and 34

In the year three hundred increased by forty-seven, on the fifteenth (lunar day) of the bright half of Śrāvaṇa, this (charter), the dūtaka of which is the Mahāpīlupati Pāśupata, was written by Vāṭyali, the Chief officer in charge of the Department of Peace and War. The year 300 (and) 40 (and) 7, (the month) Śrāvaṇa, the bright (fortnight), (the lunar day) 10 (and) 5.

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First Plate 

1. siddham svasti || vijayaskandhāvārādujjayanīvāsakāccharadupagama-prasannagaganatalavimalavipule 

2. vividhapuruṣaratnaguṇakiraṇanikarāvabhāsite mahāsattvā pāśrayadurllaṅghe gāmbhīryyavati sthitya-

3. nupālanapare mahodadhāviva kaṭaccūrīṇāmanvaye sakalajanamanoharayā candrikaye va kīrtyā 

4. bhuvanamavabhāsayannā janmana eva paśupatisamāśrayaparakalaṅkadoṣarahitakulakumuda-

5. vanalakṣmīvibodhanaścandramā iva śrīkṛṣṇarājo yassamśrayaviśeṣalobhādiva sakalairābhigāmikai-

6. ritaraiśca guṇairupetassampannaprakṛtimaṇḍalo yathāvadātmanyāhitaśaktisiddhiryyena ca ruciravam –

7. śaśobhinā niyatamaskhalitadānaprasareṇa prathitabalagarimṇā vanavāraṇayūthapenevāvi –

8. śaṅkam vicaratā vanarājaya ivāvanamitā diśo yasya ca śastramāpannatrāṇāya vigrahatparā-

9. bhimānabhaṅgāya śikṣitam vinayāya vibhavārjjanam pradānāya pradānam dharmmāya dharmaḥ śreyovā – 

10. ptaye | tasya putraḥ pṛthivyāmapratirathaścaturudadhisalilāsvāditayaśā dhanadavaruṇendrāntaka –

11. samaprabhāvaḥ svabāhubalopāttorjjitarājaśrīpratāpātiśayopanatasamagrasāmanta– 

12. maṇḍalaḥ parasparāpīḍitadharmmārtthakāmaniṣevī praṇatimātrasuparitoṣagambhīronnata–

13. hṛdayassamyakprajāpālanādhigatabhūridraviṇa-viśrāṇanāvāptadharmmakriyaścirotsannā–

14. nām nṛpativamśānām pratiṣṭhāpayitātyucchritānāmunmūlayitā dīnāndhakṛpaṇasamabhila- 

15. ṣitamanorathādhikanikāmaphalapradaḥ pūrvvāparasamudrāntādideśasvāmī mātāpitṛ-

16. pādānuddhyātaḥ paramamāheśvaraḥ śrīśaṅkaragaṇaḥ sarvvāneva rājasāmantabhogikaviṣaya– 

17. patirāṣṭragrāmamahattarādhikārikādīnsamājñāpayati | astu vo viditamasmābhirbhoga 

Second Plate 

18. varddhanaviṣayāntarggatavallisikāgrāma ubhayacatvāriṃśakanivarttaninā 

19. bhūmernnivarttanaśatam sarvvādānasamgrāhyam sarvvadityaviṣṭiprātibhedikāparihīṇam bhūmi–

20. cchindranyāyenācāṭabhaṭaprāveśyamācandrārkkārṇṇavakṣiti-sthitisamakālīnam putrapautrānvapabhogyam 

21. kallivanavāstavyagautamasagotrataittirīyasabrahmacāribrāhmaṇa svāmine balicaruvaiśvadevā–

22. gnihotrādikriyotsarppaṇāya mātāpitrorātmanaśca puṇyayaśobhivṛddhaye goggāvijñāpanayodakā

23. udakātisarggeṇātisṛṣṭam | yatosmadvamśyaianyairvvā nṛpatibhogapatibhiḥ prabalapavana–

24. preritodadhijalataraṅgacañcalam jīvalokamabhāvānugatānasārānvibhavāndīrgghakālastheyasa–

25. śca guṇānākalayya bhogasāmānyabhūpradānaphalepsubhiḥ śaśikararuciram cirāya yaśaścicīṣubhi–

26. rayamasmaddāyonumantavya pālayitavyaśca | yo vājñānatimirapaṭalāvṛtamatirācchindyādācchidya–

27. mānam vānumodeta sa pañcabhirmmahāpātakaissamyuktassyāditi | uktañca bhagavatā vedavyāsena vyāsena | 

28. ṣaṣṭim varṣasahasrāṇi svargge modati bhūmidaḥ ācchetā cānumantā ca tānyeva narake vaset || 1 || vindhyāṭa–

29. vīṣvatoyāsu śuṣkakoṭaravāsinaḥ | kṛṣṇāhayo hi jāyante bhūmidāyam haranti ye || 2 || bahubhirvva– 

30. sudhā bhuktā rājabhissagarādibhiḥ | yasya yasya yadā bhūmistasya tasya tadā phalam || 3 || pūrvvadattām 

31. dvijātibhyo yatnādrakṣa yudhiṣṭhira | mahīm mahimatām śreṣṭha dānācchreyonupālanam || 4 || apica yānīha 

32. dattāni purā narendrairddānāni dharmmārtthayaśaskarāṇi | nirbbhūktamālyapratimāni tāni ko nāma sādhuḥ 

33. punarādadīta || 5 || samvatsaraśatatraye saptacatvārimśaduttarake śrāvaṇaśuddhapañcadaśyām mahāpilu–

34. patipāśupatadūtakam likhitamidam mahāsandhivigrahādhikaraṇādhikṛtavāṭyalineti || sam 300 40 7 śrāvaṇa śu 10 5 | 

edit-icnEditor's Comment:
The official draft exhibits a fusion of regional administrative practices, incorporating ornate eulogistic conventions from the Gupta dynastic traditions while retaining formal elements of the Traikūṭaka grants.
Inscription by: Vākāṭakas
Ajaṇṭā Cave Inscription of Varāhadeva
  • Vākāṭaka
  • c. 475 to 500 CE
  • Stone
  • Religious
  • Cave 16, Ajanta, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 5, pp. 103-111
Introduction

The Ajanta Cave inscription is a rock-cut epigraphic record incised on the left-side wall outside the verandah of Cave XVI at Ajanta. Engraved in the box-headed Brāhmī script, the text was composed entirely in Sanskrit verse (comprising thirty-two stanzas). The record exhibits excellent calligraphy despite suffering significant weather damage and flaking on its left side. Although undated, it belongs to the reign of the Vākāṭaka monarch Hariṣena, placing its creation in the late fifth century CE (circa 475–500 CE), a date corroborated by the architectural style of the cave itself.

The inscription was executed by Varāhadeva, the minister of king Hariṣeṇa, to record the dedication of a magnificent rock-cut cave-dwelling to the Buddhist saṅgha. Varāhadeva, whose father Hastibhoja had served as minister to the previous king Devasena, made this pious dedication for the religious merit of his parents. The text provides a vivid architectural description of the cave, noting that it was adorned with windows, doors, beautiful picture-galleries, ledges, and statues of Indra's nymphs. Furthermore, the dwelling housed a temple of the Buddha inside, was provided with a large reservoir of water, and featured a shrine dedicated to the lord of the nāgas.

Translation
See Original
Verse 1 
Having bowed to the sage (Buddha) who extinguishes the rising flames of the sins of the three worlds... I shall give a eulogy about a succession of kings.

Verse 2 
There was a Brāhmaṇa (a twice-born man) on earth named Vindhyaśakti, whose strength increased in great battles, whose valour, when he was enraged, was irresistible even by gods, and who was mighty in fighting and charity.

Verse 3 
He, whose majesty was like that of Indra and Upendra (Viṣṇu), who, by the might of his arm, conquered the whole world and who destroyed the up-rooted thorns, became the standard of the Vākāṭaka race.

Verse 4 
He, eclipsing in battles the sun with the masses of dust raised by the hoofs of his horses, making the enemies... made them intent on salutation to him.

Verse 5 
Having subdued his enemies for accomplishing the work of the gods, he made a great effort to acquire religious merit...

Verse 6 
His son was Pravarasena I, whose lotus-like feet were kissed by the rays of jewels worn on the heads of hostile kings and whose eyes resembled fresh, blooming lotuses.

Verse 7 
The rays of the sun... Sarvasena was Pravarasena I’s son who defeated all armies.

Verse 8 
The illustrious Vindhyasena, the noble son of the lord of kings, governed the earth righteously, having conquered the lord of Kuntala...

Verse 9 
His son was Pravarasena II, who became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule...

Verse 10 
His son... who, having obtained the kingdom when eight years old, ruled well.

Verse 11 
His son became king who, on earth, was known as Devasena... by whose lovely enjoyments the earth... of the lord of gods.

Verse 12 
Through the greatness of the religious merit of that king... properly... there was Hastibhoja, the abode of excellences... the illustrious Commander of the Elephant Force on the earth.

Verse 13 
He, who had a broad and stout chest and lotus-like eyes, and who destroyed the partisans of his enemies, who had... arms... resembled a scent-elephant stationed in a quarter.

Verse 14 
Obliging, modest, loving, agreeable, obedient to the king’s wishes... faultlessly...

Verse 15 
So also, on account of his being a well-wisher of the world as well as by his happy and excellent rule, he was, indeed, always dear and accessible to the people like their father, mother and friend.

Verse 16 
...The king, having entrusted the government of the kingdom to him, became free from care and engaged himself in the enjoyment of pleasures, acting as he liked.

Verse 17 
Then his son became king... Hariṣeṇa, who, in loveliness, resembled Indra, Rāma, Hara, Cupid, and the moon, and who was brave and spirited like a lion.

Verse 18 
He conquered Kuntala, Avanti, Kaliṅga, Kosala, Trikūṭa, Lāṭa, Andhra... which, though very famous for valour...

Verse 19 
The son of Hastibhoja, renowned on earth, became the minister of that king... whole earth...

Verse 20 
Beloved by the king and the subjects, he, who was of staid and firm mind, endowed with the virtues of liberality, forgiveness and generosity, and intent on the performance of religious duty, governed the country righteously, shining brightly with the rays of his fame, religious merit and virtue.

Verse 21 
He amassed a large store of religious merit for... especially, after which he, regarding the sacred law as his only companion, made this sacred dwelling, being extremely devoted to the Buddha, the teacher of the world.

Verse 22 
Realising that life, youth, wealth and happiness are transitory... he, for the sake of his father and mother, caused to be made this excellent dwelling to be occupied by the best of ascetics.

Verse 23 
On the best of mountains, on which hang multitudes of water-laden clouds and which is inhabited by the lords of serpents... in the thickets of the slopes of which... by the lord of the Goddess of heroism.

Verse 24 
The dwelling which is adorned with windows, doors, beautiful picture-galleries, ledges, statues of the nymphs of Indra and the like, which is ornamented with beautiful pillars and stairs, and has a temple of the Buddha inside.

Verse 25 
Which is situated on the top of the mountain, appears attractive... a canopy, which is provided with a large reservoir of abundant water and is also ornamented with a shrine of the lord of the Nāgas and the like.

Verse 26 
...various pleasures... in a fierce wind blowing all round... warmed by the heat of the rays of the summer sun and affording enjoyment of well-known comforts in all seasons.

Verse 27 
Which resembles the palaces of the lord of gods and is similar to a cave in the lovely Mandara mountain... as desired by the people.

Verse 28 
Which... shines on the slopes of this matchless mountain... since it removes fatigue.

Verse 29 
The cave on this mountain... clothed in the brilliance of Indra’s crown, which the people, with their love expanding through joy and gratification, have named—viśāla.

Verse 30 
Having presented the cave with devotion to the Community of Monks, Varāhadeva together with the multitude of his relatives, having enjoyed royal pleasures, ruled righteously, being praised like Sugata (i.e. the Buddha).

Verse 31 
As long as... with the multitude of the hoods of serpents resembling crowding clouds... as long as the sun shines with rays red like fresh red arsenic—even so long may this spotless cave containing an excellent hall (maṇḍapa) dedicated to the three ratnas, be enjoyed!

Verse 32 
May this mountain, the peak of which contains various types of caves, which is inhabited by great people... and may the whole world also, getting rid of its manifold sins, enter that tranquil and noble state, free from sorrow and pain!
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1. udīrṇṇalokatrayadoṣavahninirvvāpaṇam - - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - -yatim praṇamya pūrvvām pravakṣye kṣitipānupūrvvīm ||

2. mahāvimarddeṣvabhivṛddhaśaktiḥ kruddhassurairapyanivārryavīryyaḥ | - - - - - - - - -raṇadānaśaktiḥ dvija- -prakāśo bhuvi vindhyaśaktiḥ ||

3. purandaropendrasamaprabhāvaḥ svabāhuvīryyārjjitasarvvalokaḥ | - - - - uddhṛtakamṭakānā. babhūva vākāṭakavaṃśaketuḥ ||

4. raṇeṣu svaharya yuddhatareṇujālasañchāditārkkassa ca karma - - | - - - - - - - - - - -narātīn kṛtvābhivādapravaṇāmścakāra||

5. vinirjitārissurarājakāryye cakāra puṇyeṣu param prayatnam | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -|| arinarendramaulivinyastamaṇikiraṇalīḍhakramāmbujaḥ |

6. pravarasenastasya putrobhūdvikasannavendīvarekṣaṇaḥ || ravimayūkha - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -| sarvvasenaḥ pravarasenasya jitasarvvasenassutobhavat||

7. satputraḥ pārtthivendrasya praśaśāsa dharmmeṇa medinīm | kuntalendram vijitya - - - - - - -śrīvimdhyasenaḥ nṛpobhavat || pravarasenastasya putrobhūtpravarorjitodāraśāsanaḥ pravaraḥ |

8. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -|| tasyātmajaḥ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -| - - - - - - - - - - -mavāpya rājyamaṣṭābdako yaḥ praśaśāsa samyak ||

9. tasyātmajobhūnnaradeva - - - - - - - - - - - - -bhuvi devasenaḥ | yasyopabhogairllalitairvvi-- - - - - - - -devarājasya - - - - - - -bhūḥ || puṇyānubhāvātkṣitipasya

10. samyak - - - - - - - - - - - - | - - - - - - - - - - - - guṇādhivāsaḥ śrīhastikośo bhuvi hastibhojaḥ || pra - - - - - - - pṛthupīnavakṣāssaroruhākṣa kṣapi-

11. tāripakṣaḥ | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - bāhurddiggandhahastipratimo babhūva || hito vinītaḥ praṇayapradhāno manonukūlonuvidhānavarttī | niratyayam

12. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -kaśca || tataiva lokasya hitāśayatvātsukhena samyakparipālanena | piteva māteva sakheva nityam priyobhigamyaśca babhūva 

13. satyam || - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - | svasthassamāveśya sa tatra rājā sasañja bhogeṣu yatheṣṭaceṣṭaḥ || atha tasya suto babhū-

14. va rājā . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .| harirāmaharasmarevakānti rhariṣeṇo harivikkramapratāpaḥ || sa kuntalāvantikaliṅgakosalatrikūṭalāṭāndhra-

15. - - - - - jānimān | - - - - - - - - - - - - śauryyaviśrutānapi svanirddeśaguṇāti - - - - - - -|| prathito bhuvi hastibhojasūnussacivastasya mahīpaterbbabhūva | sakalakṣiti-

16. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . || rāja prajeṣṭaḥ sthiradhīracetāstyāgakṣamaudārryaguṇairupetaḥ dharmmeṇa dharmmapravaṇaśśaśāsa deśam yaśaḥ puṇyaguṇāmśu-

17. - - -|| viśeṣataḥ . . . . . . . . . prati puṇyopacayam param cakāra | yata ūrdhvamimām sahāyadharmmāniratolokagurau cakāra kārām || āyurvayovittasukhāṇini

18. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - cañcalāni | uddiśya mātāpitarāvudāram nyavīśadveśma yatīndrasevyam || sajalāmbudavṛndalambitāgre bhujagendrādhyuṣite mahīdharendre |

19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vīraśrīpatinā dharāni kuñje || gavākṣaniryyūhasuvīthivedikāsurendrakanyāpratimādyalaṅ-kṛtam | manoharastambhavibhaṅga-

20. bhūṣitam niveśitābhyantaracaityamandiram ||  - - - - - - -talasanniviṣṭam vitāna- - - -  manobhirāmam | - - - prakāmāmbumahānidhānam nāgendraveśmādibhira-

21. rapyalaṅkṛtam ||  - - - - - - rmmahati samīraṇe samantāt- - - - - - vividhavilāsa- - -- - - -| grīṣmārkkasya ca kiraṇopatāpataptam sarvartuprathitaguṇopabhogayogyam ||

22. . . . . . . . . . surendramandirāṇām rucimanmandarakandarānurūpam | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . janairyathepsitam || asamasya virocane girervika-

23. . . . . . . . . . . . . śramāntakatayā nivahena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . || - - viśālamiti yasya janena nāma prītiprasādavikacapraṇayena cakre | etasya 

24. - - - - - - - - - -  rlayanam surendramauliprabhopacitamaṅgalasamgrahāya || nivedya saṅghāya suveśma bhaktyā sabandhuvarggassa varāhadevaḥ | nṛdevasaukhyānyanubhūya samyak 

25. dharmeṇa śāstā sugatapraśastaḥ || sāndrāmbhodabhujaṅgabhoga nikarairyyāvat - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -nūtnamanaḥ śilālakapilairyyāvatkarairbhāskaraḥ | tāvacche-

26. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -sevyatāmantarmaṇḍaparatnametadamalam ratnatrayodbhāvitam || vividhalayanasānussevyamāno mahadbhirggiriraya-

27. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -ddhyaḥ | jagadapi ca samastam vyastadoṣaprahāṇādviśatu padamaśokam nirjvaram śāntamāryyam ||

edit-icnEditor's Comment:
It provides extensive geographical data regarding the military zenith of the Vākāṭaka empire, recording that King Hariṣeṇa conquered and held sway over Kuṇṭala, Avanti, Kaliṅga, Kośala, Trikūṭa, Lāṭa, and Āndhra.
Inscription by: Śilāhāra
Akṣī Stone Inscription of Keśideva II
  • Śilāhāra
  • 1209 CE (Cyclic year Vibhava, Śaka year 1131)
  • Stone
  • Gadhegal
  • Religious
  • Akshi (modern Alibaug), Maharashtra
  • Marathi influenced by Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 6, pp 167-168.
Introduction

This significant record reported from Akshi, Maharashtra, is engraved on a stone slab featuring the maṅgala-kalaśa along with sun and moon symbols on the top and the imprecatory ass-curse relief on the bottom. 

The record, composed in Marathi language influenced by Sanskrit, is engraved in Nāgarī script. It refers to the reign of Keśīdeva II, who is adorned with titles such as the “Lord of the Western Sea” (paśchimasamudrādhipati) and “Emperor of Konkan” (koṅkaṇachakravartī). Dated to the Śaka 1131 (1209 CE), the record commemorates public works performed by mahāpradhāna Bhairju and pradhāna Adhora in honor of the goddess Mahālakṣmī. 

Translation
See Original

Hail! Om! While Bhairju is an officer and mahāpradhāna of the illustrious Keśideva, who bears the titles Paścimasamudrādhipati and Koṅkaṇa-cakravartī—at such a time in the śaka year 1131, the cyclic year being Vibhava, Bhairju dug…….and Adhora, who is a Pradhāna of the same king, excavated . . . .in honour of Mahālakṣmī. May the world be happy!

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1. jagīṃ sukha aso | svasti oṃ paścimasa-

2. mudrādhīpatī | śrīkoṅkaṇacakra-

3. vartī | śrīkeśīdevarāya mahāpradhā-

4. na bha-irju senaḥ tasmin kāle

5. pravartamāne | śakasaṃvat 1131 vabha-

6. vā saṃvatsare a kaḍī dharmukā bai-

7. lu | bha-irjjuva tathā boḍadma tabhana u-

8. karalī | adhora pradhānu | mahālaṣu-

9. mīcī paḍī kaluna pokaralī |

 

Inscription by: Kalacuri
Alhaghat Stone Inscription of Narasimha
  • Kalacuri
  • 16th August 1159 CE, Sunday (Bhādrapada śuddha 1, Vikrama Samvat 1216)
  • Stone
  • Alhaghat, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 322-324.
Introduction

The Alhaghat stone inscription is a seven-line Nāgarī record written in Sanskrit, dated to Bhādrapada śuddha 1st tithi, Vikrama Samvat 1216 corresponding to 16th August 1159 CE, Sunday. The epigraph refers itself to the reign of the Kalacuri ruler Narasimhadeva, the mahārājādhirāja of Ḍāhāla 

The text opens with an invocation of success and registers the victorious reign of Narasimhadeva. It records that rāṇaka Chhīhula, the son of mahārāṇaka Jālhaṇa of Pīpalāma fort, constructed the Shaṭashaḍikā ghat and built a temple for the goddess Ambikā near the road embankment to secure religious merit in the Kali age. This work is declared a means for attaining dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa. The deed is stated to have emancipated the entire Rautiā caste dwelling in Kauśāmbī. The epigraph concludes by naming ṭhakkura Kamalādhara as the writer, followed by the artisans Kamalasimha, Some, Kokāsa, Pālhaṇa, and Ḍalhaṇa who executed the project.

Translation
See Original

Lines 1 to 5 

Success! In the year 1216, on Sunday, the first lunar day of the bright fortnight of Bhādra i.e., Bhādrapada, during the victorious reign of the illustrious Narasimhadeva, the Mahārājādhirāja of Ḍāhāla, the rāṇaka, the illustrious Chīhula, the son of the illustrious Jālhaṇa, the mahārāṇaka of Pipalāma fort, constructed the Ṣaṭashaḍikā ghat and the temple of the goddess Ambikā near the road leading to it for the acquisition of) religious merit in the Kali age. This is a means of acquiring religious merit, wealth, pleasure and liberation. The tribe of Rautiā (Rauts) living in Kauśāmbī has been liberated by this religious deed.

Lines 6 and 7

This has been written by the ṭhakkura, the illustrious Kamalādhara. The work was executed by the artisans, Kamalasimha, Some, Kokāsa, Pālhaṇa, and Ḍalhaṇa.

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1. siddhiḥ | samvat 1216 bhādrasudi pratipadiravau || ḍāhālīyamahārājā- 

2. dhirājaśrīnarasimhadeva vijayarājye || pipalāmadurggastha mahā- 

3. rāṇakaśrījālhaṇaputra rāṇakaśrīcchīhulena kaliyuga- 

4. dharmmārtham ṣaṭaṣaḍikāghāṭabandhanam mārggataṭāśmikā devī ca kari- 

5. teti || dharmmārthakāmamokṣasādhanam || kausāmbīnikāyā rau- 

6. ti-ā nāma jāti udharitaḥ || ṭhakura śrīkamalādharaṇa likhitam |

7. sūtradhāraḥ kamalasīmhaḥ | some | kokāsa || pālhaṇa | ḍalhaṇa ||

Inscription by: Śilāhāra
Ambarnāth Temple Inscription of Māṃvaṇirāja
  • Śilāhāra
  • 27th July 1061 CE (Śrāvaṇa śuddha 9, Śaka 982)
  • Stone
  • Religious
  • Ambarnath Temple, Thane, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 6, pp 110-113.
Introduction

The stone inscription was identified on a girder of the Ambarnath temple near Kalyan Thane district, Maharashtra presents an epigraphic record from the reign of the Śilāhāra ruler Mummuṇirāja (referred to as Māṃvāṇirāja). Engraved in the Nāgarī script and composed in irregular Sanskrit prose, the text dates to the Śaka 982 (1060 CE). 

The charter formally records the completion of the Ambernath temple, an architectural project initiated by the predecessor, mahāmaṇḍaleśvara Chhittarāja. Issued on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa in Śaka 982, the record acknowledges the sovereign authority of Mummuṇirāja and enumerates the hierarchical administration managing the kingdom, listing high officials including Bimbapaiya and Nāgaṇaiya. It explicitly credits the finalisation of the temple construction to a coalition of royal preceptors, specifically mahārājaguru Nābhāta and junior rājaguru Vilaṇḍaśivabhaṭṭa, along with Tāsivarājala, the vassal commander.

 

Translation
See Original

Line 1

In the Śaka year 982, on Friday, the 9th tithi of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa during the victorious reign of the illustrious mahāmaṇḍaleśvara, Māṃvāṇirājadeva, who has obtained the five mahāśabdas, who is appearing glorious with all royal titles such as the lord of the mahāmaṇḍaleśvaras,’ ‘veritable Dāmodara in the destruction of the demons that are his enemies’, ‘an adamantine cage for the protection of those that seek his refuge’ and so forth-

Line 2-3

During the augmenting, beneficial and victorious reign of that king; while the mahāmātya, the illustrious Bimbapaiya, the mahāpradhāna, the illustrious Nāgaṇaiya, the lekha-sāndhivigrahika, the illustrious Vakavaiya, the mahāsāndhivigrahika, illustrious Jogalaiya, the Senior bhāṇḍāgārasthepāḍhisena, the illustrious Mahādevaiya, the Junior bhāṇḍāgārasena Bhāilaiya, and others who are in charge of the śrīkaraṇa (administration), are bearing the burden of the cares of his entire kingdom.

Line 4-6

The illustrious Mahārājaguru Nābhāṭa, the junior rājaguru Vilaṇḍaśivabhaṭṭa the Śhakāṇa Paivayaka, the mahāsāmanta, the illustrious Tāsivarājala, having undertaken the work of construction, have completed this temple of the mahāmaṇḍaleśvara, the illustrious Chittarājadeva known as the temple of Ambaranātha in Pāṭapallī governed by Bhagala.

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1. śakasaṃvata 982 śrāvaṇa śuddha 9 śukre samadhigatāśeṣapañcamahāśabda mahāmaṇḍaleśvarādhipatiripudaityadalanadāmodara-

2. śaraṇāgatavajrapajaretyādisamastarājāvalivirājamānamahāmaṇḍaleśvara śrīmāmvāṇirājadevavijayarājye etatsamastarājyacintābhāra-

3. samudvahanamahāmātyaśrīviṃvapaiyastathā mahāpradhānaśrīnāgaṇaiyastathā lekhasāndhivigrahikaśrīvakavaiyastathā mahāsāndhivigrahikaśrījoga-

4. laiyastathā bhāṇḍāgāraprathamasthepāḍhisenamāhādevaiyastathā dvitīyasthema bhāilaiyādipradhānaśrīkaraṇādhiṣṭhitakalyāṇavijayarājye vardhamāne śrī-

5. mahārājagurunā bhātalaghurājaguruśrīvilaṃṇḍaśivabhaṭṭa ṣakāṇapaivayakamahāsāmaṃtaśrītāsivarājalaiḥ kārāpakaiḥ bhūtvā śrīambaranāthadevaku-

6. lā … … … … bhagalasamuddharitapāṭapalyāṃ mahāmaṇḍaleśvaraśrīmacchittarājadevasya bhavanaṃ saṃpāditam |

edit-icnEditor's Comment:
The reference to the mahāmatya Bimbapāiya in this record is particularly significant, as it represents an important milestone in reconstructing the early medieval regional history of Mumbai.
Inscription by: Vākāṭakas
An unfinished Durg Plate
  • Vākāṭaka
  • c. 5th century CE
  • Copper Plate
  • Land Grant
  • Religious
  • Mohalla, Durg District, Chattisgarh
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 5, pp. 76-78.
Introduction

The unfinished Durg copper plate, discovered at Mohalla in the Durg district, Chhattisgarh, represents an incomplete Vākāṭaka charter. Engraved on a remarkably thin single plate in the box-headed Brāhmī script and Sanskrit language, the text halts abruptly after just five lines. The record was to be issued from Padmapurā. Paleographic and historical evidence suggests it dates to a period following Pravarasena II, likely during the reign of Narendrasena. Due to its unfinished state, the surviving text merely provides the standard initial genealogical formula characteristic of Vākāṭaka copper-plate charters. It lacks the customary authorising mark of "dṛṣṭam."

Translation
See Original

From Padmapura:

...[who was] the grandson of the illustrious Pravarasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, the Samrāṭa (Universal Monarch), who performed the Agniṣṭoma, Āptoryāma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Atirātra, Vājapeya, Bṛhaspatisava, Sādyaskra, and four Aśvamedha sacrifices, and who belonged to the Viṣṇuvṛddha gotra;...[and who was] the daughter’s son of the illustrious Bhavanāga, the mahārāja of the Bhāraśivas—whose royal family was created by Śiva, who was greatly pleased by their carrying the Śiva liṅga like a load placed upon their shoulders, who were besprinkled on their heads with the pure water of the river Bhāgīrathī obtained by their valour, and who performed the ritual ablutions upon the completion of ten Aśvamedha sacrifices...

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1. padmapurāt | agniṣṭomāptoryyāmokthyaṣoḍaśyatirātravājapeyabṛhaspatisava- sādyaskracaturaśva-

2. medhayājinaḥ viṣṇuvṛddhasagotrasamrājaḥ vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpravarasenasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ

3. atyantasvāmimahābhairavabhaktasya amsabhārasanniveśitaśivaliṅgodvahanaśivasupari-

4. tuṣṭasamutpāditarājavaṃśānām parākkramādhigatabhāgī ratthyamalajalamūrddhā bhiṣiktānām

5. daśāśvamedhāvabhṛtha snātānāmbhāraśivānāmmahārājaśrībhavanāgadauhitrasya

Inscription by: Hariścandra
Anjaneri Plates (First Set) of Bhogaśakti
  • Hariścandra
  • c. 710 CE (varṣa 461)
  • Copper Plate
  • Land Grant
  • Religious
  • Anjaneri, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 146-154.
Introduction

Discovered in 1936 by the Shid family in Anjaneri near Trimbak, Nasik District, this three-plate copper charter belongs to king Bhogaśakti, also known as Pṛthivīcandra, of the Hariścandra dynasty. Dated to the year 461 of the Kalacuri era, corresponding to c. 710 CE, the Sanskrit record utilises the Brāhmī script. The charter documents the donation of eight villages and specific taxes to support the worship of god Nārāyaṇa, installed as Bhogeśvara at Jayapura, and assigns temple management to the local merchant guild.

Following an invocation to the boar incarnation of Viṣṇu, the record extols the Cālukya sovereign Vikramāditya, who appointed Svāmicandra over the fourteen thousand villages of Puri-Konkan region. The lineage proceeds through Simhavarman to the donor, Bhogaśakti. Equated to various epic heroes, Bhogaśakti decrees the grant of eight villages, Jayagrāma, Ambe-Avaṅgaṇa, Pālittapāṭaka, Kokilākṣaka, Kalahaka, Mudgāhitaka, Kṣemagiraka and Āṇṇagrāma and specific territorial revenues, quantified in Kṛṣṇarāja rūpakas, to the deity Bhogeśvara in Jayapura. The charter entrusts the local merchant assembly with temple administration and the annual Mārgaśīrṣa festival, granting them tax exemptions in return. A postscript registers supplementary donation of bounded pasture land and a capital deposit of one hundred rūpakas to perpetually fund bdellium for the deity  by Tejavarmarāja, the royal officer incharge of the region around Jayapura.

Translation
See Original

Success!

Verse 1 

Victorious is Viṣṇu’s manifested boar-form, which agitated the ocean and which had the world resting on the tip of its projecting right tusk!

Line 2 to 8 

In the family of the illustrious Cālukyas, who are of the Mānavya gotra which is being praised by the whole world; who are the sons i.e., descendants of Hārītī; who were brought up by the Seven Mothers who are the mothers of the seven worlds; who obtained continuous prosperity through the protection of Kārttikeya; who have all kings submitting to them the moment they see the boar-emblem which was obtained by the favour of the divine god Nārāyaṇa, there was the mahārājādhirāja, parameśvara, the illustrious Vikramāditya-vallabha, the sole forehead-mark of the whole earth. Dependent on the favour of his feet and treated by him in no way different from his own son, there was a king named the illustrious Svāmicandra, an ornament of the family of Hariścandra, who caused delight to the people like the moon whose orb has become clear on the advent of autumn, and by whom this entire Koṅkaṇa country with Purī as the chief city, the villages in which number fourteen thousand, was governed. A son of that king, the illustrious Svāmicandra, was the illustrious king Siṃhavarman of great strength and prowess.

Line 9 to 27 

Again, a son of that illustrious king Simhavarman viz. the king, the illustrious Bhogaśakti, who having, like the moon, well-known splendour on the earth embraced by the waves of the water of the four oceans, had the second name of pṛthivīcandra (the Moon on the Earth); who, even as a boy, had knowledge spontaneously produced through the discipline of his previous life; who is always engaged in the worship of the divine god Vāsudeva, and is devoted to sacred knowledge; who, like Yudhiṣṭhira, is adorned by excellences such as political wisdom, humility, compassion, charity and courteousness, and always speaks the truth; who, like Bhīmaśena, has brought under his rule the whole territory of his dominions by his displayed valour, and is possessed of great strength; who, like Arjuna, acts in accordance with the knowledge and teaching imparted by Janārdana, and is skilled in fighting; who, like Balarāma, is eagerly engaged in the enjoyment of the pleasures of dancing, singing, laughing, dallying, and sporting, and is also valiant in a moment; who, though, like Pradyumna, is possessed of a charming form attractive to the minds of all young women, has no desire for the enjoyment of another’s wife; who, like the leader of a herd of wild elephants which has his trunk always moistened with the continuously flowing rut, has his hand always wet through making gifts continuously; who, like a reservoir of sweet water beautified with clusters of day-lotuses, blue lotuses and night lotuses, which quenches the thirst of animals, destroys the greed of living beings; who, like a large assemblage of lotuses, made to bloom by the rays of the rising sun which becomes an abode of beauty, is the place of resort for Fortune; who, like the ocean that always keeps itself within bounds, is engaged in giving protection to several mountains, is very deep, and contains large aquatic animals, has maintained established customs, is intent on giving protection to many princes, and is possessed of great serenity and courage; who is always occupied with the construction of religious works, such as temples, tanks, charitable feeding-houses and watersheds, and is intent on meditating on Nārāyaṇa; who is an ornament of Konkan with Purī (as the capital), even as the Kaustubha jewel is of Viṣṇu; who is proficient in understanding the import and principles of the Bhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa and the works on the science of politics; who is wise, clever, learned and intelligent; whose strength, prowess and powers derived from personal energy, counsel and royal position, are unimpeded; and who is the goad i.e., the controller of the three worlds, addresses the following command to all his sons, sons’ sons and sons’ sons' sons and so forth, as well as all people living in the viṣayas of Goparāṣṭra, eastern Trikūṭa, Āmrarājī, Mairikā, both the Mahāgirihāras and Pallusūḍhāmbaka, extending as far as Pretahrada, which have been acquired by the might of his arms and valour:

Line 28 to 40 

Be it known to you that realising that there is no pre-eminent god except the divine Vāsudeva, the lord of both gods and demons, the supreme god of gods, the cause of the creation, preservation and destruction of the world, I have donated for the increase of the religious merit of my mother and father and of myself, the following eight villages and rights to the divine god Nārāyaṇa, the primeval Being and Supreme Spirit called Bhogeśvara installed in Jayapura, for providing perfume, flowers, incense, light, bathing, and anointing of the god, for symphonic entertainment combined with dancing, singing and music, for maintaining a charitable feeding-house, and for repairing what may be damaged or broken. The names of them i.e., the villages are as follows: Jayagrāma, Ambe-Avaṅgaṇa, Pālittapāṭaka, Kokilākṣaka, Kalahaka, Mudgāhitaka, Kṣemagiraka and Ānnagrāma. And the rights are as stated below: stalls in market places; kovera in a written document; a rūpaka to be paid for each cart of the caravan on ingress and egress at Jayapura at the time of the yātrā festival of the god; a basket of corn and an offering of ghee in the principal villages in the viṣayas of Goparāṣṭra, Āmrarājī and Mairikā; in the same manner in other villages of the aforementioned districts; in the viṣaya of eastern Trikūṭa, a hundred rūpakas of Kṛṣṇarāja, in figures 100; in the western Mahāgirihāra, two hundred rūpakas of Kṛṣṇarāja, in figures 200; in the eastern Mahāgirihāra, one hundred rūpakas, (in figures) 100; in the viṣaya of Pallūḍhamba, fifty rūpakas of Kṛṣṇarāja, in figures 50. As for the eight villages, they are all to be exempt from all dues, forced labour and special rights; they are not to be entered by cāṭas and bhaṭas, are to be self-contained, and are to continue as donated villages as long as the moon, the sun, the ocean and the earth will endure.

Line 41 to 53 

Wherefore, our descendants, seeing that the living world is fickle like the waves of the ocean-water agitated by strong wind, should consent to and preserve this our gift. And the merchants of the town Jayapura, five or even ten in number, should celebrate the yātrā festival of the god Viṣṇu for a whole fortnight in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa. But he, who, with his mind shrouded in the darkness of ignorance, would confiscate it or allow it to be confiscated, would incur the five great sins. As for this temple, it is entrusted to the town of merchants. They should all perform the service and take care of the property of the god. The following regulation is laid down for the town: The merchants residing at this place will never have to pay the octroi duty, or to provide for the boarding of royal officers. He, who will violate this regulation, shall incur the five great sins.

(Here follow four benedictive and imprecatory verses.)

Line 54 and 55 

In the year four hundred increased by sixty-one, this charter was written by Bharatasvāmin, a resident of Kallivana.

Line 56 to 64 

Success! Hail! The illustrious Tejavarmarāja has relinquished a pasture-land in Pālittapāṭaka to the south of Jayapura. And in evidence of it, stone sculptures of cows, together with the image of the goddess Durgā, have been put up in all the four directions to mark its boundary. That is the defining limit of the pasture-land. For purchasing land in honour of the god Bhogeśvara, a hundred rūpakas have been deposited with the merchant town of Jayapura. The interest on the hundred rupees should be paid by the guild of merchants in the town as the price of bdellium for the worship of the god Bhogeśvara, year after year, as long as the moon, the sun and the stars will endure. He who will do otherwise, shall incur the five great sins.

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First Plate 

1. siddham | jayatyāviṣkṛtam viṣṇorvvārāham kṣobhitārṇṇavam | dakṣiṇonnatadamṣṭrāgraviśrāntabhuvanam vapuḥ ||1||

2. śrīmatām sakalabhuvanasamstūyamānamānavyasagottrāṇām saptalokamātṛbhiḥ saptamātṛ- 

3. bhirabhivarddhitānām |  kārttikeyaparirakṣaṇaprāptakalyāṇaparamparāṇām bhagavannārāyaṇa – 

4. prasādasamāsāditavarāhalāñchanekṣaṇa kṣaṇavaśīkṛtāśeṣamahībhṛtām hārītīputtrāṇām ca– 

5. lukyānāmanvaye sakalamahīmaṇḍalaikatilako mahārājādhirājaparameśvaraḥ śrīvikkramādi-

6. tyavallabhastatpādaprasādopajīvī svaputtranirvviśeṣo hariścandravamśasyālaṅkārabhūtaśśara-

7. dupagamaprasannamaṇḍalaścandramā iva prajānāmānandakārī śrīsvāmicandro nāma rājā yene – 

8. dam caturddaśasahasrasaṅkhyagrāmam sakalamapi purīkoṅkaṇam bhuktamāsīt | tasya ca rājñaḥ śrīsvā- 

9. micandrasya puttro mahābalaparākkramaḥ śrīsimhavarmma rājastasyāpi śrīsimhavarmma rājasya puttraḥ 

10. caturudadhijalataraṅgāliṅgitāyām pṛthivyām candra iva vikhyātatejāḥ pṛthivīcandrāparanā– 

11. madheyo rājā śrībhogaśaktiryyosau bāla eva pūrvvajanmābhyāsena svayam samutpannajñāno 

12. bhagavato vāsudevasyārccanavidhim prati satatamabhiyukto brahmaṇyaśca yudhiṣṭhira i- 

13. va nayavinayadayādānadākṣiṇyādibhirgguṇairalaṅkṛtaḥ satyavādī ca |

14. bhīmasena iva prakaṭaparākkramākkrāntāśeṣasvarājyabhūmimaṇḍalo mahābalaśca 

Second Plate: First Side 

15. arjuna iva janārddanajñānopadeśānuvarttī samaravidhiviśāradaśca 

16. baladeva iva nṛttagītahasitavilasitakrīḍāsukhopabhogatatparaḥ 

17. kṣaṇa vikkrāntaśca pradyumna iva sakalayuvatijanamanoharam vapurddhārayannapi para– 

18. kalatranispṛhaḥ vanavāraṇayūthādhipatiriva satatamabhipravṛttādānārdrīkṛtakaraḥ padmo– 

19. tpalakumudaṣaṇḍamaṇḍitaḥ svādūdako jalāśaya iva prāṇinām tṛṣṇāvicchedakārī 

20. uditadivasakarakiraṇaprabodhito mahāpadmākara iva śriyāṃ nivāsabhavanam | 

21. jaladhiriva rakṣitasthitiranekabhūbhṛtpālanaparaḥ paramagambhīro mahāsattvaśca 

22. satatameva devakulataṭākasattraprapādharmmakkriyānuṣṭhānavyasanī nārāyaṇānu- 

23. smaraṇatatparaśca kaustubhamaṇiriva viṣṇoḥ purīkoṅkaṇaviṣayasyālaṅkārabhūto bhārata– 

24. purāṇarāmāyaṇarājaśāstrārtthatattva nipuṇaḥ prājñaḥ paṭuḥ paṇḍito medhāvyaprati- 

25. hatabalaparākkramotsāhamantraprabhuśaktistribhuvanāṅkuśo rājā śrībhogaśaktiḥ sarvvā– 

26. nevātmīyaputtrapauttra prapauttrādīn svabhujabalaparākkramādhiṣṭhitān goparāṣṭrapūrvva-

27. ttrikūṭāmrarājīmairikāmahāgirihāradvayapallusūḍhāmvakaviṣayān pretahlada- 

28. maryyādān sarvvān samājñāpayati | astu vo viditam yathā sṛṣṭisthitisamhārakāraṇam 

Second Plate: Second Side 

29. devātidevam surāsuragurum bhagavantam vāsudevam muktvā nānyā viśiṣṭadevatāstī–

30. ti matvā jayapure pratiṣṭhitabhogeśvarāya purāṇapuruṣāya paramātmane bhagava–

31. te nārāyaṇāya gandhapuṣpadhūpadīpasammārjjanopalepakkriyārttham | nṛttagītavādyo– 

32. petasaṅgītakārttham | sattrārttham khaṇḍasphuṭitasamskārārttham ca | mātāpittrorātmanaśca puṇya– 

33. vṛddhaye aṣṭau grāmā ādānāni ca pratipāditāni | teṣānnāmāni jayagrāmaḥ ambe– 

34. avaṅgaṇam pālittapāṭakaḥ kokilākṣakam kalahakaḥ mudgāhitakaḥ kṣema– 

35. girakaḥ ānnagrāmaśca | ādānāni āpaṇeṣu āvārāḥ karaṇe koberam | sārtthavahittreṣu 

36. praveśe nirggame ca pratyekaṃ rūpakaḥ devasya yātrotsave dātavyaḥ | goparāṣṭrāmrarājīmai-

37. rikāviṣayeṣu jyeṣṭhikāgrāme mūṭakaḥ ghṛtasātikā ca anenāvatāreṇa itare – 

38. ṣvapi grāmeṣu | pūrvvattrikūṭaviṣaye kṛṣṇarājarūpakaśatam 100 | mahāgirihāre apare 

39. kṛṣṇarājarūpakaśatadvyam 200 pūrvveśatam 100 pallusūḍhāmbaka viṣaye | kṛṣṇarājarūpakāḥ pañcāśat 50 | 

40. ye cāṣṭau grāmāste sarvvādānaviṣṭiprātibhedikāparihīṇāḥ acāṭabhaṭapraveśyāḥ 

41. abhyantarasiddhikāḥ ācandrārkkārṇṇavakṣitisthitisamakālīnāḥ ya-

Third Plate: First Side 

42. tastasmādasmadvamśyaiḥ prabalapavanapreritodadhijalataraṅgacañcalam 

43. jīvalokamavalokya ayamasmaddāyonumantavyaḥ pālayitavyaśca 

44. vaṇigbhipañcabhirddaśabhirapi jagaradharmmamavalambya mārggaśīrṣamāsasya pakṣamāttram 

45. devasya viṣṇoryyāttrotsavassārayitavyaḥ | yo vājñānatimirāvṛtamatirācchindyādā– 

46. cchidyamānam vānumodeta sa pañcabhirmmahāpātakaissaṃyuktaḥ syāt | yadetadde- 

47. vakulam tadvaṇiṅnagarāya nirūpitam | taiśca sarvvairvbhagavato devasya śuśrūṣā yogakṣema- 

48. śca voḍhavyaḥ | nagarasya ca sthitirllikhyate | ye sthānavāsino vāṇijakāsteṣām śulkam jemako 

49. vā kadācidapi nāsti | ya etām sthitim bhinatti sa pañcabhirmmahāpātakaiḥ samyuktaḥ syāditi | 

50. ṣaṣṭim varṣasahasrāṇi svargge modati bhūmidaḥ | ācchettā cānumantā ca tānyeva narake vaset ||2|| 

51. pūrvvadattām dvijātibhyo yatnādrakṣa yudhiṣṭhira | mahīm matimatām śreṣṭha dānācchreyonupālanam ||3||

52. bahubhirvvasudhā bhuktā rājabhissagarādibhiḥ | yasya yasya yadā bhūmistasya tasya tadā phalam ||4|| 

53. vindhyāṭavīṣvatoyāsu śuṣkakoṭaravāsinaḥ | kṛṣṇāhayo hi jāyante bhūmidāyam haranti ye ||5|| 

54. samvatsaraśatacatuṣṭaye ekaṣaṣṭyadhike 400 60 1 śāsanam likhitam kallivana- 

55. vāstavyena bharatasvāminā || 

Third Plate: Second Side
Inscription of Tejavarman  

56. siddham | svasti | śrītejavarmmarājena jayapurasya dakṣiṇasyāṃ 

57. pālittapāṭake gopracāro muktaḥ | tasya ca pra- 

58. māṇam caturdikṣu durggādevīsahitāḥ śailimā gāvaḥ sthāpitāḥ | sīma-

59. mnaḥ tadeva pramāṇam tasya gopracārasyārtthe | bhogeśvaradevasya bhūmini– 

60. ṣkrayārttham jayapuravaṇiṅnagarasya rūpakaśatam dattam | tasya ca rūpaka–

61. śatasya vṛddhiḥ guggulamūlyam bhogeśvaradevasya varṣaprativarṣa 

62. nagareṇa yāvaccandrārkkatārakam dātavyam | yo vāsyā-

63. nyathā kariṣyati sa pañcabhirmmahāpātakaissamyukto bha-

64. viṣyati ||

Inscription by: Hariścandra
Anjaneri Plates (Second Set) of Bhogaśakti
  • Hariścandra
  • c. 710 CE (varṣa 461)
  • Copper Plate
  • Anjaneri, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 154-159.
Introduction

Discovered in the possession of the Shid family at Anjaneri near Trimbak in the Nashik district, this two-plate copper charter was issued by king Bhogaśakti, also known as Pṛthivīcandra, of the Hariścandra lineage. Recorded in Sanskrit language and is engraved in the Brāhmī script.  It registers civic privileges, tax exemptions, and penal codes for merchants residing in newly resettled territories, reflecting sophisticated urban administrative practices.

Following an invocation to Viṣṇu and eulogies of the Cālukya sovereign Vikramāditya, the text traces the Hariścandra lineage through Svāmicandra, Simhavarman, and the reigning Bhogaśakti. The core decree records Bhogaśakti’s resettlement of the devastated town of Samagiripaṭṭana alongside Candrapurī and four affiliated hamlets. Granted to civic leaders Ela śreṣṭhin and Karapuṭa śreṣṭhin, the charter awards merchants permanent exemption from kingdom-wide octroi duties, revokes the crown's right to confiscate property of sonless individuals, and abolishes the obligation to board royal officers. It codifies a penal schedule in rūpakas for assaults and sexual transgressions, while allowing a council of eight or sixteen local elders to arbitrate final penalties. Tejavarmarāja, a royal officer, executed the charter.

Translation
See Original

Success!

Verse 1 

Victorious is Viṣṇu’s manifested boar-form, which agitated the ocean and which had the world resting on the tip of its projecting right tusk!

Line 2 to 8 

In the family of the illustrious Cālukyas, who are of the Mānavya gotra which is being praised by the whole world; who are the sons i.e., descendants of Hārītī; who were brought up by the Seven Mothers who are the mothers of the seven worlds; who obtained continuous prosperity through the protection of Kārttikeya; who have all kings submitting to them the moment they see the boar-emblem which was obtained by the favour of the divine god Nārāyaṇa, there was the mahārājādhirāja, parameśvara, the illustrious Vikramāditya-vallabha, the sole forehead-mark of the whole earth. Dependent on the favour of his feet and treated by him in no way different from his own son, there was a king named the illustrious Svāmicandra, an ornament of the family of Hariścandra, who caused delight to the people like the moon whose orb has become clear on the advent of autumn, and by whom this entire Koṅkaṇa country with Purī as the chief city, the villages in which number fourteen thousand, was governed. A son of that king, the illustrious Svāmicandra, was the illustrious king Siṃhavarman of great strength and prowess.

Line 9 to 27 

Again, a son of that illustrious king Simhavarman viz. the king, the illustrious Bhogaśakti, who having, like the moon, well-known splendour on the earth embraced by the waves of the water of the four oceans, had the second name of pṛthivīcandra (the Moon on the Earth); who, even as a boy, had knowledge spontaneously produced through the discipline of his previous life; who is always engaged in the worship of the divine god Vāsudeva, and is devoted to sacred knowledge; who, like Yudhiṣṭhira, is adorned by excellences such as political wisdom, humility, compassion, charity and courteousness, and always speaks the truth; who, like Bhīmaśena, has brought under his rule the whole territory of his dominions by his displayed valour, and is possessed of great strength; who, like Arjuna, acts in accordance with the knowledge and teaching imparted by Janārdana, and is skilled in fighting; who, like Balarāma, is eagerly engaged in the enjoyment of the pleasures of dancing, singing, laughing, dallying, and sporting, and is also valiant in a moment; who, though, like Pradyumna, is possessed of a charming form attractive to the minds of all young women, has no desire for the enjoyment of another’s wife; who, like the leader of a herd of wild elephants which has his trunk always moistened with the continuously flowing rut, has his hand always wet through making gifts continuously; who, like a reservoir of sweet water beautified with clusters of day-lotuses, blue lotuses and night lotuses, which quenches the thirst of animals, destroys the greed of living beings; who, like a large assemblage of lotuses, made to bloom by the rays of the rising sun which becomes an abode of beauty, is the place of resort for Fortune; who, like the ocean that always keeps itself within bounds, is engaged in giving protection to several mountains, is very deep, and contains large aquatic animals, has maintained established customs, is intent on giving protection to many princes, and is possessed of great serenity and courage; who is always occupied with the construction of religious works, such as temples, tanks, charitable feeding-houses and watersheds, and is intent on meditating on Nārāyaṇa; who is an ornament of Konkan with Purī (as the capital), even as the Kaustubha jewel is of Viṣṇu; who is proficient in understanding the import and principles of the Bhārata, the Rāmāyaṇa and the works on the science of politics; who is wise, clever, learned and intelligent; whose strength, prowess and powers derived from personal energy, counsel and royal position, are unimpeded;

Line 28 

The illustrious Bhogaśakti………………addresses the following order to all his sons, sons’ sons, sons’ sons’ sons, and so forth, and to the heads of viṣayas, the bhogikas and mahattaras of villages:

Line 29 to 38 

Be it known to you that I have settled again the Samagiripaṭṭana, which had been previously devastated, together with Candrapurī and together with the three hamlets, viz., Ambeyapallikā, Savāṇeyapallikā, and Maureyapallikā, and also Kamsāripallikā. This charter is made over to the whole town, of which Ela śreṣṭhin and Karapuṭa śreṣṭhin are the chief representatives. The merchants residing in Samagiri are not to pay octroi duty in the whole kingdom as long as the moon and the sun will endure. Besides, there is not to be an escheat to the crown of the property of a person who dies sonless. There is to be no distinction between wharfs. There is to be no tax for the lodging and boarding of royal officers. For a violent offence against unmarried girls, the offender will be fined a hundred and eight rūpakas; for adultery, thirty-two rūpakas; for boxing of the ears, sixteen rūpakas; for injury to the head, four rūpakas. If the offence is committed against a labour-woman, a merchant’s son will be caught naked and will be fined one hundred and eight rūpakas. And whatever eight or sixteen mahallakas respectable men of the town will declare after deliberation, will be the right standard of punishment.

This was executed by the illustrious Tejavarmarāja.

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First plate 

1. siddham | jayatyāviṣkṛtam viṣṇorvvārāham kṣobhitārṇṇavam | dakṣiṇonnatadaṃṣṭrāgra- 

2. viśrāntabhuvanam vapuḥ || 1 || śrīmatām sakalabhuvanasamstūyamānamānamāna- 

3. vyasagotrāṇām saptalokamātṛbhissaptamātṛbhirabhivarddhitānām kārttike-

4. yaparirarakṣaṇaprāptakalyāṇaparamparāṇām bhagavannārāyaṇaprasādasa- 

5. māsāditavarāhalāñchanekṣaṇakṣaṇa vaśīkṛtāśeṣamahībhṛtām hārītīputtrā- 

6. ṇām calukyānāmanvaye sakalamahīmaṇḍalaikatilako mahārājādhirājapara-

7. meśvaraśrīvikkramādityavallabhastatpādaprasādopajīvī svaputranirvviśeṣo 

8. hariścandravamśasyālaṅkārabhūtaḥ śaradupagamaprasannamaṇḍalaścandramā iva pra-

9. jānāmānandakārī śrīsvāmicandro nāma rājā yenedam caturdaśasahasragrāmam

10. saṅkhyam sakalamapi purīkoṅkaṇam bhuktamāsīt | tasya ca rājñaḥ śrīsvāmicandrasya 

11. putro mahābalaparākkramaḥ śrīsiṃhavarmmarājastasyāpi śrīsimhavarmmarājasya 

12. puttraścaturudradhijalataraṅgāliṅgitāyām pṛthivyām candra iva 

Second Plate: First Side 

13. vikhyātatejāḥ pṛthivīcandrāparanāmadheyo rājā śrībhogaśaktiḥ | yosau bāla 

14. eva pūrvvajanmābhyāsena svayam samutpannajñāno bhagavato vāsudevasyārccanavi-

15. dhim prati satatamabhiyukto brahmaṇyaśca yudhiṣṭhira iva nayavinayadayādānadākṣi– 

16. ṇyādibhirguṇairalaṅkṛtassatyavādī ca bhīmasena iva prakaṭaparākkrākkrāntāśeṣasvarā-

17. jyabhūmimaṇḍalo mahābalaśca arjuna iva janārddanajñānopadeśavarttī samaravidhiviśā- 

18. radaśca baladeva iva nṛttagītahasitavilasitakrīḍāsukhopabhogatatparaḥ kṣaṇam vi-

19. kkrāntaśca pradyumna iva sakalayuvatijanamanoharam vapurddhārayannapi parakalatrani- 

20. spṛhaḥ vanavāraṇayūthādhipatiriva satatamabhipravṛttadānārdrīkṛtakaraḥ padmotpala- 

21. kumudaṣaṇḍamaṇḍitaḥ svādūdako jalāśaya iva prāṇinām tṛṣṇāvicchedakārī uditadiva- 

22. sakarakiraṇaprabodhito mahāpadmākara iva śriyo nivāsabhavanaṃ jaladhiriva rakṣita- 

23. sthitiranekabhūbhṛtpālanaparaḥ paramagambhīro mahāsattvaśca satatamiva devakulataṭā- 

24. kasattraprapādharmmakkriyānuṣṭhānavyasanī nārāyaṇānusmaraṇatatparaśca kaustubhama- 

25. ṇiriva viṣṇoḥ purikoṅkaṇaviṣayasyālaṅkārabhūtaḥ bhāratapurāṇarāmāyaṇa- 

26. rājaśāstrārtthatattva nipuṇaḥ prājñaḥ paṭuḥ paṇḍito medhāvī apratihatabalaparā- 

Second Plate; Second Side 

27. kkramotsāhamantraprabhuśaktistribhuvanāṅkaśo rājā śrībhogaśaktiḥ sarvvānevātmī- 

28. yaputtrapauttraprapautrādīn viṣayapatigrāmabhogikam hattarān samājñāpaya–

29. ti viditamastu vo yathā pūrvvamutsāditam samagiripaṭṭanam candrapurīsahitam 

30. mbayapallikāsavāṇeyapallikāmaureyapallikāttrayasahitam kamsā- 

31. ripallikā ca mayā samāvāsitam | elaśreṣṭhikarapuṭaśreṣṭhipramukha- 

32. samastanagarasya dattam | samagirivāstavyānām vāṇijām candrārkkakālikam śulkamādeyam 

33. samastarājye nāsti | aparam ca aputtradhanam nāsti umurabhedaḥ rājapuruṣā- 

34. ṇāmāvāsako jemakaśca etannāsti | kumārīsāhase rūpakāṇāmaṣṭottaram 

35. śatam | saṅgrahaṇe dvātriśatirūpakāḥ | karṇṇatroḍaṇikāyām ṣoḍaśa rūpakāḥ | śira-

36. sphoṭane catvāri rūpakāḥ | bhārikāyām vaṇikputtrasyāṣṭottaram śatam rūpakāṇām 

37. nagnagṛhītasya | yaccāṣṭau ṣoḍaśa vā nagaramahallakā vicāryya vadanti  

38. tadeva pramāṇam | śrītejavarmmarājena etadanuṣṭhitamiti || 

Inscription by: Gurjara
Anjaneri Plates of Jayabhaṭa III
  • Gurjara
  • Tuesday, 23rd September 710 CE (Āśvayuja, vadya di. 11, varṣa 460)
  • Copper Plate
  • Land Grant
  • Religious
  • Anjaneri, Nashik, Maharashtra
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 90-96.
Introduction

The Anjaner plates of Jayabhaṭa III, issued in the Kalacuri year 460 (710 CE), were discovered in the Nashik district of Maharashtra. This Sanskrit charter records a land grant by the Gurjara ruler Jayabhaṭa III. The inscription is engraved on two copper plates utilising the Brāhmī script, featuring a solar symbol on its seal.

Issued from Bharukachchha (modern Bharuch, Gujarāt), the charter records the donation of sixty nivartanas of land, divided into three distinct plots, within Tōraṇaka village of the Nāndīpura districts. The beneficiary was the brāhmaṇa Nārāyaṇa, a student of the Kauthuma śākhā of the Sāmavēda residing at Brahmapurī. The grant was made on the occasion of the Tulā saṅkrānti to support the five great sacrifices (pañcamahāyajña). Detailed boundaries mention the river Karillinī, various roads, and neighboring family fields. It was executed by the dūtaka Bāvulla and written by Sahabhaṭa, carrying the royal sign-manual.
Translation
See Original

Lines 1 to 4

Success! Hail! From the camp at Bharukaccha:

In the great lineage of the mahārāja Karṇa which, like a lake full of lotuses, has become the perpetual abode of Lakṣmī; which allays the suffering caused by desire for wealth, as a lake quenches thirst for water; which has its greatness enhanced by the sun; and which shines with prosperity affording support to the families of Brāhmaṇas, as a lake gives shelter to multitudes of birds, there was, like a swan, the illustrious Dadda [II]; whose pure disposition was not affected by the freaks of the powerful Kali age; who, by his inscrutable and noble deeds, excited the wonder of all the guardians of the world; and who possessed a canopy of glory having the grace of a moving, large, white cloud, which had sprung from his protection of the King of Valabhī when he was attacked by the Emperor, the illustrious Harṣadeva.

Lines 5 and 6

His son was the illustrious Jayabhaṭa [II]; the joy of whose mind was heightened as his stores of wealth were enjoyed by supplicants who fearlessly approached him; whose valour was nurtured by the destruction of the families of many foes, even as fire is fed by the burning of a mass of thorns and bamboos; and who covered the lotus-like faces of the damsels of the cardinal regions with the shining white garment of his fame, in the guise of pearls from the frontal lobes of the elephants of his enemies, cleft by the sharp edge of his sword.

Lines 7 to 12

His son was the illustrious Dadda [III]; who was clever in performing his duty through discrimination acquired by the study of the sacred treatise composed by the great sage Manu; who, by maintaining the institutions of varṇas and āśramas, completely uprooted the pride of the Kali age; who annihilated the vanity of all kings by spending in charity the wealth he had acquired in excess of the desires of his supplicants; whose valour in mounting mighty elephants, uncontrollable through rut, had grown restive under the goad; whose habit of performing acts of benevolence was celebrated throughout the world through his deliverance of hundreds of kings who had fallen under the blow of adversity; whose second name, Bāhusahāya, meaning one whose arm is the sole helper, became renowned through the valour of his arm exhibited in routing numerous hosts of elephants in the great wars fought with the supreme rulers of the east and the west; and who was a devout worshipper of Maheśvara and attained the pañcamahāśabda.

Lines 13 to 15

His son, the illustrious Jayabhaṭa [III], who is clever in destroying the hosts of elephants thickly arrayed in the clash of many battles; who is a wild fire in burning the forests of the rebellious; who is to the destitute, helpless, and distressed people, friends, servants, and relatives as the full moon is to clusters of lotuses; who is able to confound his adversaries as the current of the Bhāgīrathī is to undermine the opposite banks; who is the commandant of a large and boisterous army, even as Śāntanu was the lord of a great and noisy river; and who has rescued kings by the might and valour of his arm, even as the primeval Boar rescued the earth, who is a devout worshipper of Maheśvara and has attained the pañcamahāśabda; being in good health, addresses the following order to all kings, feudatories, bhogikas, heads of viṣayas, the mahattaras of rāṣṭras and villages, officials, and others:

Lines 15 to 30 

Be it known to you that for the increase of the religious merit and fame, in this world and the next, of (my) mother and father and of myself, I have today, on the eleventh (tithi) of the dark fortnight of Āśvayuja, on the occasion of the sun’s entering the Tulā (rāśi), granted with a libation of water, fields measuring sixty nivartanas in three pieces of land with their boundaries defined as follows: a piece of land measuring fifty-two nivartanas in the north-east direction of the village Toraṇaka situated in the Nāndīpura viṣaya, the boundaries of which are on the east, the road going to the village Jayapura (and) the tank adjacent to the pit Hastinikā; on the south, the family field belonging to the householder Dīpa, separated by the field boundary marked by the Charedakī tree, and a stream flowing from the field boundary towards the south; and on the west, the road going from the village Toraṇaka to the village Viddheraka and the sumiāra tree growing on the boundary of the field and a stream flowing into the Dhammāṇa pit; on the north, the Dhammāṇa pit. The piece of land defined by these four boundaries; further, in the marshy region in the southern direction of this very village, a piece of land measuring five nivartanas, the boundaries of which are: on the east, the family field belonging to the householder Reevalla separated by the boundary of baraṭaka; on the south, the river Karilliṇī; on the west, the family field belonging to the householder Vijaḍamba separated by the boundary of baraṭaka and marked by an umbrella; on the north, the brāhmadeya field belonging to the brāhamaṇa Dāmodara and a royal road, the field marked by these four boundaries; and on the south of this very piece of land, in the (same) marshy region, (another) piece of land measuring three nivartanas and surrounded by mango trees of the marshy region, the boundaries of which are: on the east, the river Karilliṇī; on the south, the same river Karilliṇī; on the west, the boundary leading to the village Bhūtishohī; on the north, the vitaṭī of the river Karilliṇī marked by the aṅkolla tree, (the fields measuring sixty nivartanas in all in three pieces of land with their four boundaries defined as above), together with the uparikara, with taxes on commodities manufactured and imported, with the income in grain and gold, with (the fines imposed for) the ten offences, with the right to forced labour arising therefrom, free from the interference of all officers of the state, exclusive of the gifts to gods and brāhamaṇas previously made (and) including houses, immovables and movables, which are to be enjoyed by a succession of sons and sons’ sons as long as the moon, the sun, the ocean, the earth, rivers and mountains will endure, according to the maxim of waste land, to the brāhmaṇa Nārāyaṇa, the son of the brāhamaṇa Caṣaṭasvāmin, of the Śāṇḍilya gotra, (who is) a student of the Kauṭhuma śākhā of the Chandoga (i.e., Sāmaveda) who resides at Brāhmapurī and belongs to the community of the Caturvedins of that place, for the performance of five great sacrifices, viz., bali, caru, vaiśvadeva, agnihotra, (reception of) guests and such other (religious) rites. 

Lines 31 to 33

Wherefore, none should cause obstruction while he is enjoying it, cultivating it, or causing it to be cultivated in accordance with the rules applicable to brahmadāya land. And future gracious kings, whether born in our family or others, should consent to this our gift and preserve it! Whoever, with his mind shrouded by the veil of the darkness of ignorance, would confiscate it or allow it to be confiscated, shall incur the five great sins together with the minor sins.

Lines 33 to 37 

And it is said by the holy Vyāsa, the redactor of the Vedas:

(Here follow six benedictive and imprecatory verses.) 

Lines 38 and 39  

This (charter), the dūtaka of which is the balādhikṛtā Bāvulla, has been written by the balādhikṛta Sahabhaṭa, the son of the balādhikṛta Durgabhaṭa. Recorded in the year 400 (and)    60, (the month) Āśvayuja (and) the dark (fortnight) (and) (on the lunar day) 10 (and) 1. This is the sign-manual of me the illustrious Jayabhaṭa. 

Seal 

The illustrious Jayabhaṭa 

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First Plate

1. siddham | svasti | śrībharukacchātsatatalakṣmīnivāsabhūte | tṛṣṇāsantāpahāriṇi | dinanāthavistāritānubhāve | dvijakulopajīvyamānavibhavaśā– 

2. lini | mahati mahārājakarṇṇanviye kamalākara iva rājahamsaḥ prabalakalikālavilasitānākulitavimalasvabhāvo gambhīro-

3. dāracaritavismāpitasakalalokapālamānasaḥ parameśvaraśrīharṣadevābhibhūtavalabhīpatiparitrāṇopajātabhramada–

4. dabhraśubhravibhramayaśovitānaḥ śrīdaddastasya sūnuraśaṅkitāgatapraṇayijanopabhuktavibhavasañcayopacīyamānama–

5. nonirvṛtiranekakaṇṭakavamśasandohadāhadurllalitapratāpānalo | niśitanistrimśadhārādāritārātikarikumbhamuktāphalaccha-

6. lollasitasitayaśoṅśukāvaguṇṭhitadigvadhūvadanasarasijaḥ śrījayabhaṭastasyātmajo mahāmunimanupraṇītapravacanādhiga-

7. mavivekasvadharmmānuṣṭhānapravīṇo varṇṇāśramavya vasthonmūlitasakalakalikālāvalepaḥ praṇayijanamanorathaviṣayavyatītavibhava–

8. sampādanāpanītāśeṣa pārtthivadānābhimāno madavivaśāṅkuśātivarttikupitakarinivāraṇaprathitagurugajādhiro-

9. haṇaprabhāvo | vipatprapātapatitanarapatiśatābhyuddharaṇanikhilalokaviśruta paropakārakaraṇavyasanaḥ prācyapratīcyādhi–

10. rājavijṛmbhitamahāsamgrāmanarapatisahasrapari vāritānekagajaghaṭāvighaṭanaprakaṭitabhujavīryyavikhyātabāhusahāyā– 

11. paranāmā | paramamāheśvarassamadhigatapañcamahāśabdaḥ śrīdaddastasya sūnuranekasamarasamghaṭṭaghanaghaṭitagajaghaṭāpāṭa-

12. napaṭurasahiṣṇuvanagahanadāvānalo | dīnānāthāturasuhṛtsvajanabandhukumudākarakaumudīniśākaro | bhāgīrathīpravāha i- 

13. va vipakṣakṣobhakṣamaḥ śāntanuriva samudbhūtakalakalārāvamahāvāhinīpatirādivarāha iva svabhujabalaparākramoddhṛtadha-

14. rādharaḥ paramamāheśvarassamadhigatapañcamahāśabdaḥ śrījayabhaṭakuśalī sarvvāneva rājasāmantabhogika | viṣayapatirāṣṭra–

15. grāma mahattarādhikārikādīnsamanudarśam yat yastu vassamviditam yathā mayā mātāpitrorātmanaścaihikāmuṣmikapuṇyayaśobhi–

16. vṛddhaye | brahmapurīnivāsyetaccāturvvidyasāmānyaśāṇḍilyasagotra | chandoga | kauṭhumasabrahmacāribrāhmaṇacaṣṭasvāmiputra–

17. brāhmaṇanārāyaṇāya | balicaruvaiśvadevāgnihotrātithipañcamahāyajñādikriyot sarppaṇārttham | nāndīpuraviṣayāntarggata |

18. toraṇakagrāmasya pūrvvottaradigvibhāge | dvāpañcāśannivartanapramāṇam bhūkhaṇḍam | yasyāghāṭanāni |

Second Plate 

19. pūrvvataḥ jayapuragrāmayāyī panthā hastinikāgarttāsamlagnam saro dakṣiṇataḥ chredakīvṛkṣopalakṣitamairāntari- 

20. takuṭumbidīpasatkakauṭumbakṣetram | mairātassamutthito dakṣiṇābhimukho bahaśca | tathā aparataḥ toraṇakagrā–

21. māt viddherakagrāmayāyī panthāḥ tathā kṣetramadirotthito sumi āravṛkṣaḥ tathā dhammaṇagarttāgāmī bahaśca | uttarataḥ dhammāṇakhaṭṭā |

22. evame | taccaturāghāṭanopalakṣitam bhukhaṇḍam tathāsyaiva grāmasya dakṣiṇadigvibhāge kacche | pañcanivarttanapramāṇam bhūkhaṇḍam | yasyāghāṭanāni pū– 

23. rvvataḥ varaṭa kamaryyādāntaritakuṭumbirevallasatkakauṭumbakṣetram | dakṣiṇataḥ karilliṇīḥ nadī | aparataḥ chattrābhyupalakṣitavaraṭakamaryā–

24. dāntaritakuṭumbivijaḍambasatkakauṭumbakṣetram | uttarataḥ brāhmaṇadāmodarasatkabrahmadeyakṣetram | rājakīyacarikā ca | tadevam caturāghāṭa– 

25. nopalakṣitam bhūkhaṇḍam | tathāsyaiva bhūkhaṇḍasya dakṣiṇādigvibhāge kacche  kacchikāmranibaddhanivarttanatrayapramāṇam bhūkhaṇḍam yasyāghāṭanāni 

26. pūrvvataḥ karilliṇī nadī | dakṣiṇataḥ saiva karilliṇī nadī | aparataḥ bhūtiṣohīgrāmagāmī sīmāsandhiḥ uttaratoṅkollavṛkṣopalakṣita–

27. karilliṇīnadīvitaṭī | evametacatuścaturāghāṭanopalakṣitabhūkhaṇḍatrayāvastitaṣaṣṭi nivarttanapramāṇam kṣetram  soparikaram  sabhūtavāta

28. pātapratyāyam | sadhānyahiraṇyādeyam | sadaśāparādham sotpadyamānaviṣṭikam  sarvvarājakīyānāmahastaprakṣepaṇīyam | pūrvvapratta-

29. devabrahmadāyarahitam | bhūmicchidranyāyenācandrārkkārṇṇavakṣitisaritparvvatasamakālīnam putrapautrānvayakramopabhogyam | gṛhasthāva–

30. racalakasahitamadyāśvayujabahulaikādaśyām tulāsaṅkrānteravāvudakātisarggeṇa pratipāditam | yatosyocitayā brahmadāyasthityā bhum-

31. jataḥ kṛṣataḥ karṣayata pratidiśato vā na kaiścidvyāsedhe varttitavyamāgāmibhadranṛpatibhirasmadvamśyairanyairvvāya masmaddāyonumantavyaḥ 

32. pālayitavyaśca | yaścājñānatimirapaṭalāvṛtamatirācchindyādācchidyamānakam vānumodeta sa pañcabhirmmahāpātakaissopa-

33. pātakaissamyukkataḥ syāditi | uktam ca bhagavatā vedavyāsena vyāsena | ṣaṣṭim varṣasahasrāṇi svargge tiṣṭhati bhūmidaḥ | ācchettā cānumantā ca tā–

34. nyeva narake vaset || 1 || vindhyāṭavīṣvatoyāsu śuṣkakoṭaravāsinaḥ | kṛṣṇāhayo hi jāyante | bhūmidāyam haranti ye || 2 || bahubhirvvasudhā bhuktā 

35. rājabhissagarādibhiḥ | yasya yasya yadā bhūmistasya tasya tadā phalam || 3 || agnerapatyam prathamam suvarṇṇam bhūrvvaiṣṇavī sūryyasutāśca gāvaḥ | 

36. lokatrayam tena bhavettu dattam | yaḥ kāñcanam gām ca mahīm ca dadyāt || 4 || yānīha dattāni purā narendrairdānāni dharmmārtthayaśaskarāṇi | ni-

37. rbhukktamālyapratimāni tāni | ko nāma sādhuḥ punarādadīta || 5 || svadattām paradattām vā yatnādrakṣa yudhiṣṭhira | mahīm mahimatām śreṣṭha dānā–

38. cchreyonupālanam || 6 || iti || likhitamidam balādhikṛtadurggabhaṭasūnunābalādhikṛtasahabhaṭeneti || balādhikṛtabāvulla– 

39. dūtakaṃ || sam 400 60 | āśvayuja ba 10 1 | nibaddham || svahasto mama śrījayabhaṭasya ||

Seal 

śrī-jayabhaṭaḥ |

Inscription by: Māhiṣmatī
Bagh Cave Plate of Subandhu
  • Māhiṣmatī
  • 5th century CE.
  • Copper Plate
  • Land Grant
  • Religious
  • Bagh Cave 2, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh
  • Sanskrit
  • Source: CII Vol 4, pp. 19-21.
Introduction

The Bagh cave copper-plate inscription, discovered in the debris of Cave 2 at Bagh in Madhya Pradesh, is an administrative charter issued by mahārāja Subandhu. Engraved on a single unsealed plate with the royal sign-manual in the left margin, the Sanskrit record is written in the Brāhmī script featuring distinct nail-headed characters. While a broken corner obscures the exact chronological year, retaining only the month Śrāvaṇa, paleographic and historical correlation with Subandhu's Barwani grant places the epigraph in the early fifth century CE.

Issued from the capital city of Māhiṣmatī (modern Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh), mahārāja Subandhu directs this mandate to state officials and local residents within the Dāsilakapallī subdivision. The edict registers the donation of a village as a tax-exempt agrahāra, inclusive of udraṅga and uparikara taxes, governed by the maxim of waste land. This religious endowment was established to support the Kalāyana monastery, originally constructed by Dattaṭaka. The granted revenues are specifically allocated for the worship of Buddha with perfumes and flowers, the maintenance of an alms-house, structural repairs to the monastery, and the provision of essential supplies, clothing, food, beds, and medicine, for the resident community of venerable monks arriving from all four directions.

Translation
See Original

Line 1 to 3

Om! Hail! From the city of Māhushmatī,  mahārāja Subandhu, being in good health, issues the following order to sthānalakas, collectors of the royal cess (dityodgrāhakas), āyuktakas, viniyuktakas, cāṭas, bhaṭas, members of the managing committee (gosṛhikas), officers looking after egress and ingress passports (gamāgamikas), dūtapreṣaṇikas, and others, as well as villagers at ….. in the pathaka of Dāsilakapallī.

Line 4 to 9

Be it known to you that for the increase of the religious merit of my parents and myself, this village has been granted by me together with udraṅga and uparikara, as an agrahāra according to the maxim of waste land, in order that it may be used for defraying the expenses of perfume, frankincense, flowers and offerings as well as for maintaining an alms-house, for repairing broken and rent portions of the vihāra and for providing the community of venerable monks coming from all the four quarters, with clothing, food, nursing of the sick, beds, seats as well as medicine in the monastery called Kalāyana (the Abode of Art) caused to be constructed by Dattāṭaka, as long as the moon, the sun, the oceans, planets, constellations and the earth would endure.

Line 10 to 11

Having known this, our officers and rulers of other countries should not cause obstruction out of their love for religion and regard for us, while the monks of this vihāra are enjoying the village.

(Here occurs a benedictive and imprecatory verse.)

Line 12

My own command ………………………. In the month of Śrāvaṇa …...

(In the margin) Of the mahārāja Subandhu.

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1. siddham | svasti | māhiṣmatīnagarānmahārājasubandhukuśalī dāsilakapallīpa–

2. thake ……………… grakāṃsthānalakadityodgrāhakāyuktakaviniyuktaka–

3. cāṭabhaṭagoṣṭhikagamāgamikadūtapreṣaṇikādīngrāmaprativā- 

4. sinaśca samājñāpayati | viditamastu vaḥ yathaiṣa grāmo mayā dattaṭa–

5. kakāritakalāyanavihāre mātāpitrorātmanaśca puṇyāpyāyanārtthamācandrā–

6. rkkārṇṇavagrahanakṣatrakṣitisthitisamakālīno bhagavate buddhāya gandhadhūpa– 

7. mālyabalisatropayojyo bhagnasphuṭitasamska raṇārtthamāryyabhikṣusaṅghasya 

8. cāturddiśābhyāgatakasya cīvarapiṇḍapātaglānapratyayaśeyyāsanabhai–

9. ṣajyahetorāgrahārassodraṅgassoparikaro bhūmicchidranyāyenāgrahāro 

10. atisṛṣṭa iti viditvādyadivasādārabhyāsmadīyairanya viṣayapatibhiśca…..

11. prītyāsmatprītyā ca bhikṣavo bhuñjanto na vyāseddhavyāḥ | ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi 

12. svargge modati bhūmidaḥ | ācchattā cānumantā ca tānyeva narake vaset || svaya- mājñā | ……

13. śrāvaṇa …………… 

(In the margin) mahārājasubandhoḥ |

edit-icnEditor's Comment:
The record demonstrates state sponsorship of a Buddhist institution by a ruler whose other known charter records an agrahāra grant with tax exemptions.

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Index
(160 inscriptions found)
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Abhoṇa Plates of Śaṅkaragaṇa
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Ajaṇṭā Cave Inscription of Varāhadeva
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Akṣī Stone Inscription of Keśideva II
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Alhaghat Stone Inscription of Narasimha
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Ambarnāth Temple Inscription of Māṃvaṇirāja
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An unfinished Durg Plate
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Anjaneri Plates (First Set) of Bhogaśakti
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Anjaneri Plates (Second Set) of Bhogaśakti
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Anjaneri Plates of Jayabhaṭa III
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Bagh Cave Plate of Subandhu
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Bagumra Plates of Allaśakti
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Bahuriband Statue Inscription of Gayākarṇa
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Balipattana Plates of Raṭṭarāja
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Bamhanī Plates of Bharatabala
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Banaras Plates of Karṇa
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Bandhogarh Rock Inscription (No. I) of Yuvarājadeva I
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Bandhogarh Rock Inscription (No. II) of Yuvarājadeva I
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Bandhogarh Rock Inscription (No. III) of Yuvarājadeva I
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Bargaon Stone Inscription of Śabara
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Barwani Plate of Subandhu
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Bassein Stone Inscription of Anantadevā II
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Bassein Stone Inscription of Mallikārjuna
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Belorā Plates (Set A and B) of Pravarasena II
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Berlin Museum Plates of Chittarāja
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Besani Stone Inscription
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Bhedaghat Gauri Shankar Temple Inscription of Vijayasimha
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Bheraghat Stone Inscription of Narasimha
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Bhoighar Plates of Chittarāja
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Bhādāna Grant of Aparājita
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Bhāṇḍup Plates of Chittarāja
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Bilhari Stone Inscription of Yuvarājadeva II
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British Museum Plate of Karṇa
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British Museum Stone Inscription of the reign of Haripāladeva
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Bālāghāṭ Plates of Pṛthivīṣeṇa II
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Bāmaṇī Stone Inscription of Vijayāditya
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Bāsim Plates of Vindhyaśakti II
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Cammak Plates of Pravarasena II
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Candrehe Stone Inscription of Prabodhaśiva
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Caudharapāḍā Stone Inscription of Keśideva II
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Chiplun Stone Inscription of Mallikārjuna
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Choti Deori Stone Inscription of Śaṅkaragaṇa
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Cincaṇī Plate of the Reign of Chittarāja
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Cintra Stone Inscription of Aparāditya I
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Cānje Stone Inscription of Aparāditya I
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Cānje Stone Inscription of Someśvara
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Deoṭek Stone Inscription of Rudrasena I
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Dhureṭī Plates of Trailokyamalla
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Dive Āgar Plate of Mummuṇirāja
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Dive Āgar Plates of Chittarāja
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Dive Āgar Stone Inscription of Anantadeva III
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Dudiā Plates of Pravarasena II
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Ganj Stone Inscription of Vyāghradeva
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Ghaṭotkaca Cave Inscription of Varāhadeva
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Goharwa Plates of Karṇa
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Gopalpur Rock Inscription of Yuvarājadeva I
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Gurgī Stone Inscription of Kokalladeva II
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Herle Stone Inscription of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Honnur Image Inscription of the reign of Ballāla
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India Office Plate of Devasena
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Indore Plate of Bhuluṇḍa
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Indore Plate of Svāmidāsa
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Indore Plates of Pravarasena II
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Inscription in Ajaṇṭā Cave XVII
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Jabalpur Plates of Jayasimha
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Jabalpur Plates of Yaśaḥkarṇa
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Jabalpur Stone Inscription of Jayasimha
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Janjirā Plates (Set I) of Aparājita
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Janjirā Plates (Set II) of Aparājita
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Jugal Fragmentary Stone Inscription of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Jugal Fragmentary Stone Inscription of Vijayāditya
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Jāmb Plates of Pravarasena II
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Kairā Plates of Dadda II (Praśāntarāga)
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Kairā Plates of Dadda II (Praśāntarāga)
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Kanheri Plate of Traikūṭaka
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Kankhera Stone Inscription of Śrīdharavarman
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Karitalai Stone Inscription of Lakṣmaṇarāja I
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Karitalai Stone Inscription of Lakṣmaṇarāja II
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Kasare Plates of Allaśakti
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Kavi Plate of Jayabhaṭa IV
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Kaśeli Grant of Bhoja II
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Khairha Plates of Yaśaḥkarṇa
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Khidrāpur Stone Inscription of the Reign of Vijayāditya
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Khidrāpur Stone Inscription of the Yādava King Siṅghaṇa
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Khārepāṭaṇ Plates of Anantadeva I
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Khārepāṭaṇ Plates of Raṭṭarāja
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Kolhāpur Plates of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Kolhāpur Plates of Gaṇḍarāditya : Śaka Year 1037
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Kolhāpur Stone Inscription of Bhoja II
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Kolhāpur Stone Inscription of Bhoja II : Śaka Year 1104
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Kolhāpur Stone Inscription of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Kolhāpur Stone Inscription of Vijayāditya
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Kolhāpur Śeṣaśāyī Temple Inscription of the Reign of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Kutāpur Grant of Bhoja II
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Kānhērī Cave Inscription of Kapardin II
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Kānhērī Cave Inscription of Kapardin II: Śaka Year 799
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Kānhērī Cave Inscription of Pullaśakti
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Lal Pahad Rock Inscription of Narasimha
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Lonāḍ Stone Inscription of Aparāditya II
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Makundpur Stone Inscription of Gāṅgeyadeva
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Miraj Plates of Mārasiṃha
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Miraj Stone Inscription of Vijayāditya
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Māhul Stone Inscription of Haripāladeva
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Māṇḍavī Stone Inscription of Keśideva II
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Nacne-Kī-Talāī Stone Inscriptions of Vyāghradeva
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Nandui Stone Inscription of Aparāditya II
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Nashik Cave Inscription of Īśvarasena
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Nashik Plates of Dharāśraya-Jayasimha
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Navsari Plates of Jayabhaṭa III
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Navsari Plates of Pulakeśirāja
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Navsari Plates of Yuvarāja Śryāśraya-Śīlāditya
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Paikore Stone Inscription of Karṇa
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Panhāle Plates of Vikramāditya
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Pardi Plates of Dahrasena
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Parel Stone Inscription of Aparāditya II
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Paṭṭan Plates of Pravarasena II
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Paṭṭaṇakuḍi Plates of Avasara II
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Poonā Plates of Prabhāvatīguptā
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Prince of Wales Museum Plates of Chhadvaidēva
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Prince of Wales Museum Plates of Jayabhaṭa IV
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Prince of Wales Museum Plates of Mummuṇirāja
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Pāṇḍhurṇā Plates of Pravarasena II
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Pāṭnā Museum Plate of Pravarasena II
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Rewa Plate of Jayasimha
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Rewa Plate of Vijayasimha
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Rewa Stone Inscription of Karṇa
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Rewa Stone Inscription of Vijayasimha
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Rewa Stone Inscription of Vijayasimha
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Rāmṭek Plate of Pravarasena II
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Rānjalī Stone Inscription of Haripāladeva
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Rānvaḍ Stone Inscription of Someśvara
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Sankheda Plate of Raṇagraha
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Sankheda Plate of Śaṅkaragaṇa
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Sankheda Plates (First Set) of Dadda II (Praśāntarāga)
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Sankheda Plates (Second Set) of Dadda II (Praśāntarāga)
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Sarsavṇi Plates of Buddharāja
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Saugor Stone Inscription of Śaṅkaragaṇa I
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Simra Stone Inscription of Karṇa
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Sirpur Plate of Rudradāsa
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Siwanī Plates of Pravarasena II
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Spurious Kaira Plates of Vijayarāja
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Spurious Mankani Plates of Taralasvāmin
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Sunao Kalā Plates of Saṅgmasimha
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Surat Plates of Vyāghrasena
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Surat Plates of Yuvarāja Śryāśraya-Śīlāditya
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Tewar Stone Inscription of Gayākarṇa
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Tewar Stone Inscription of Jayasimha
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Tiroḍī Plates of Pravarasena II
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Tālale Plates of Gaṇḍarāditya
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Vadner Plates of Buddharāja
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Vaḍavalī Grant of Aparāditya I
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Vihār Stone Inscription of Anantadeva I
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Waḍgaon Plates of Pravarasena II
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Āgāśī Stone Inscription of Aparāditya I
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Āgāśī Stone Inscription of Haripāladeva
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Śeḍbāl Stone Inscription of the Reign of Vijayāditya
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Ṛddhapur Plates of Prabhāvatīguptā
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Ṭhāṇā Plates of Arikesarin
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Ṭhāṇā Plates of Mummuṇirāja
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Ṭhāṇā Plates of Nāgārjuna
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Ṭhāṇā Stone Inscription of Aparāditya II