Sāraṅgarh Plates of Sudevarāja (incomplete)

Metadata

Current Version:  draft, 2024-05-31Z

Editor:   Natasja Bosma.

DHARMA Identifier: INSDaksinaKosala00014

Hand Description:

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Additional Metadata

Alternative identifier:

Origin:

Classification: administrative/legal-royal order-tax regulation

Languages: Sanskrit

1. Predominantly in Sanskrit, script and

Corresponding Artefact: CONARTDaksinaKosala00013

Technique: engraved.

Layout: 18 lines are observed/preserved on the artifact.

Edition

^{⎘ plate 1v 1v1}spiralL svasti śarabhapurād vikkramopanatasāmantamakuṭacūḍāmaṇiprabhāpra-
^1v2sekāmbudhautapādayugalo ripuvilāsinīsīmantoddharaṇahetur vvasu-
^1v3vasudhāgo◯pradaḫ paramabhāgavato mātāpitṛpādānuddhyātaś śrīmahāsude-
^1v4varājaḥ tu◯ṇḍarakabhuktīyacullaṇḍarake prativāsikuṭumbinas sa-
^1v5mājñāpayati

viditam astu vo yathāyaṁ grāmaḥ ¡tṛi!⟨tri⟩daśapatisadanasukha-
^1v6pratiṣṭhākaro yāvad raviśaśitārākiraṇapratihataghorāndhakāraṁ ja-
^{⎘ plate 2r 2r1}gad avatiṣṭhate tāvad upabhogyas sanidhis sopanidhir acāṭabhaṭaprāveśya⟨s⟩
^2r2sarvvakaravisarjjitaḥ rājyamahādevīr¿o?⟨ā⟩jakulaiḥ mātāpitror ātmana{ṁ}ś ca pu-
^2r3ṇyābhivṛddhaye Udakapūrvvaṁ k¿o?⟨au⟩śikasagotra¡tṛi!⟨tri⟩sahasravidyabhāskarasvāmi-
^2r4prabhākara◯svāmibarbbarisvāmiboṭasvāmidattasvāmiviṣṇusvāmi{dashDouble}-
^2r5phalgusvāmisvāmikīrttisvāmiśa{ṁ}ṅkarasvāmimā⟨ṁ⟩ tā¡mbra!⟨mra⟩śāsane⊔nātisṛ-
^2r6ṣṭo bhūtvāsmābhir anumoditaḥ

te yūyam evam upala{ṁ}bhyaiṣām ājñāśrava-
^{⎘ plate 2v 2v1}ṇavidheyā bhūtvā yathocitaṁ bhogabhāgam upanayantas sukha⟨ṁ⟩ prativatsyatha
^2v2bhaviṣyataś ca bhūmipān anudarśayatidashDouble

tad bhavadbhi-
^2v5r apy eṣā dattir anupālayitavyā vyāsagītāṁś cātra ślokān udāhara-
^2v6ntidashDouble

Apparatus

^1v2 °dhauta° ◇ °dhota° RBHL; °dhauta° AMS • The shape of the vowel marker for au is slightly irregular, but is the same as in other copperplate charters of the kings of Śarabhapura.
^1v3 °pitṛ° • Traces of the vowel marker for i are also present, in addition to the vowel marker for ṛ. It seems that tṛi was engraved first, by accident, and it was corrected in tṛ by partly chiselling out i.
^2r6 upala{ṁ}bhyaiṣām ◇ upalabhyaiṣām RBHL; upala{ṁ}bhyaiṣām AMS

Translation by Natasja Bosma

^1v1-1v5Success! Hail! From Śarabhapura, the illustrious great Sudevarāja 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 landholders settled in [the village of] Cullaṇḍaraka situated in the Tuṇḍaraka bhukti:

^1v5-2r6Let it be known to you that by means of [this] copperplate charter [and] preceded by a libation of water, this village has been granted on behalf of the chief queen and the royal family [and] confirmed by us, for the increase of religious merit of father, mother, and ourselves, to trisahasravidya Bhāskarasvāmin, Prabhākarasvāmin, Barbbarisvāmin, Boṭasvāmin, Dattasvāmin, Svāmin, Viṣṇusvāmin, Phalgusvāmin, Kīrttisvāmin, and Śaṅkarasvāmin, [all] belonging to the Kauśika 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.

^2r6-2v2Having taken note of that, you should be obedient to the command received from themn (i.e., the donees) 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.

^2v4-2v6This 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.]]

Commentary

This copperplate charter is incomplete: the third (and last) plate as well as the seal are missing. Hence, the regnal year in which the command was issued is unknown.

Bibliography

First edited by Hira Lal 1907-1908 from the original plates; published again by Shastri 1995: 50–52; re-edited here by Natasja Bosma based on the published photographs.

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