Kauvatal Plates of Sudevarāja, Year 7

Seal

Plates

^2r4 °ātis¡ri!⟨ṛ⟩ṣṭaḥ ◇ °ātis¡ri!⟨ṛ⟩ṣṭaḥ ANL; °ātisṛṣṭaḥ AMS
^2r6 bhavi¡(ś)!⟨ṣ⟩yataś ◇ bhavi(ṣ)yataś ANL; bhavi¡ś!⟨ṣ⟩yataś AMS
^2v6 ya¡ṣ!⟨ẖ⟩ ◇ yaẖ ANL; ya¡ṣ!⟨ẖ⟩ AMS
^3r6 °¡savvan!⟨saṁvat⟩sara ◇ ¡savvan!⟨saṁvat⟩sar¿a?⟨e⟩ ANL; ¡savva!⟨saṁva⟩tsara AMS — ^3r6 mārg(g)aśīrṣa ◇ mārg(g)aśīrṣa ANL; mā¡g!⟨rg⟩aśīrṣa AMS

Seal

The permanent charter belongs to the illustrious Sudevarāja, whose kingdom was acquired by hereditary descent and whose enemies were annihilated by his valour.

Plates

^1v1-1v5Success! Hail! From Śrīpura, the illustrious great Sudevarāja, son of the illustrious great Durgarāja, whose feet are washed by the sprinkling water that is the brilliance of the crest-jewels on the crests 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 residents of [the village of] Sunikā situated in the Hakirī bhoga:

^1v5-2r4Let it be known to you that by means of [this] copperplate charter, this village has been granted by us for the increase of religious merit of father, mother, and ourselves, to the Vājasaneyin bhaṭṭa Pundarasvāmin, belonging to the Pārāśara gotra. [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.

^2r4-2r6Having 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.

^2v3-2v4This 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 rejoices in heaven for sixty thousand years; he who confiscates it or allows [another to confiscate it] will dwell for the same period in hell!

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!

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

^3r5-3v1The illustrious and great sāmanta Indrabalarāja holds the office of chief minister and [will act] here [as] the executor of the grant. [The copperplate charter] has been engraved by Golasiṅgha [on] the day 10 [of] the month of Mārgaśīrṣa [in] the increasingly victorious year 7 [of Sudevarāja’s reign].