Āraṅg Plates of Jayarāja, Year 5

Seal

Plates

^2r2 °ā¡ddha!⟨ndha⟩kāraṁ ◇ °āndhakāraṁ JFF; °ā¡ddha!⟨ndha⟩kāraṁ AMS
^2r3 sa¡na!⟨ni⟩dhis ◇ sanidhis JFF; sa¡na!⟨ni⟩dhis AMS
^2r5 puṇyābhiv¡ri!⟨r̥⟩⟨d⟩dhaye ◇ puṇy¡e!⟨ā⟩bhivr̥⟨d⟩dhaye JFF; puṇy¡e!⟨ā⟩bhiv¡ri!⟨r̥⟩⟨d⟩dhaye AMS
^2v1 °āti¿sra?⟨sr̥⟩ṣṭaḥ ◇ °āti¿sra?⟨sr̥⟩ṣṭaḥ JFF; °ātisr̥ṣṭaḥ AMS — ^2v1 °āj¡ṇ!⟨ñ⟩ā° ◇ °ājñā° JFF; °āj¡ṇ!⟨ñ⟩ā° AMS
^2v2 v¿ī?⟨i⟩dheyā ◇ v¿ī?⟨i⟩dheyā JFF; vidheyā AMS
^2v4 purāṇā ◇ purāṇ¡e!⟨ā⟩ JFF; purāṇā AMS
^3r1 gopt¡a!⟨u⟩ṁ ◇ gopt¡a!⟨u⟩ṁ JFF; goptu⟨m⟩ AMS
^3v3 phala{ṁ}¡m!⟨M⟩ ◇ phala{ṁ}m JFF; phalam AMS

Seal

The enemy-chastising charter belongs to the illustrious Jayarāja, who was the heart of Prasanna and whose enemies were overcome by his valour.

Plates

^1v1-1v5Hail! From Śarabhapura, the illustrious great Jayarāja whose feet are washed by the sprinkling water that is the brilliance of the crest-jewels of his feudatories who have been brought into submission by his prowess; who made the women of his enemies tear out their parted hair; who is a giver of riches, land, and cattle; who is entirely devoted to Viṣṇu; and favoured by his father and mother, issues [the following command] to the landholders settled in [the village of] Pamvā situated in the Pūrvarāṣṭra:

^1v5-2v1Let it be known to you that by means of [this] copperplate charter [and] preceded by a libation of water, this village has been granted by us for the increase of religious merit of father, mother, and ourselves, to Brahmadevasvāmin, belonging to the Kauṇḍinya gotra and to the Vājasaneya [school]. [The grant of the village], which leads to happiness and fame in the abode of the lord of the gods (i.e., Indra’s heaven), is to be enjoyed as long as the world will endure, [the world] of which the darkness of the night is removed by the rays of the sun, moon and stars; [comes along with the right to] hidden treasures and deposits; is not to be entered by irregular or regular troops; and is exempt from all taxes.

^2v1-2v3Having taken note of that, you should be obedient to the command received from him (i.e., the donee) and render the [proper shares of] periodical offerings and produce, while living happily [in this village]. And [the king] instructs the future rulers:

The ancients, reflecting on virtue, proclaim that the religious merit arising from the protection [of a grant] is more excellent than [that which arises] from the giving [itself]; therefore, your intent should indeed be to protect the earth that has been granted to a Brahmin of perfectly pure family and religious learning.

^3r1-3r2This gift is to be protected by you as well! And in this respect they quote the [following] stanzas sung by Vyāsa:

Gold is the first child of Agni, land is born of Viṣṇu, and cows are the offspring of Sūrya: [Therefore], whoever would give gold, a cow, and land would give the three worlds.

A giver of land dwells in heaven for sixty thousand years; he who confiscates it or allows [another to confiscate it] will dwell for the same period in hell!

O Yudhiṣṭhira, zealously protect the land which was given by yourself or by others! O best of kings, protection is superior to giving!

The earth has been granted by many kings, beginning with Sagara; whoever possesses the land at any time, to him belong the fruits at that time!

^3v3-3v4By the order from the king’s own mouth, [the copperplate charter] has been engraved by Acalasiṅgha [on the day] 25 [of] the month of Mārgaśiras [in] the increasingly victorious year 5 [of Jayarāja’s reign].