Current Version: draft, 2025-01-09Z
Editor: Jens Christian Thomas.
DHARMA Identifier: INSTelugu00012
Summary: The inscription refers to a pannasa that was given by Erigal Tugurāju to a brahmin of Tirumuḷa during the rule of Cōḻamahārāju.
Hand Description:
Alternative identifier:
Origin: Written in 600-625.
Classification: donative-religious land grant
Languages: Telugu
Corresponding Artefact: ARTTelugu000012 inscription on Engraved on a slab near a well in the village of Uruṭūru, Kamalapuram taluk, Cuddapah district
Layout: 8 lines are observed/preserved on the artifact.
1[śrī c]ōḻamahār¡a!⟨ā⟩j(u)l(la)-
2[Ē](ḷa) E(r)igal tugu-
3[rāju]lla Iccina pannāsa
4rācamānaṁbuna Ēṁba(d)[i]
5tirumu(ḷa) pāṟaku Iccina
6pannāsa ⟨⟨dē⟩⟩niki va¡kru!⟨kraṁ⟩bu
7vacinavanṟu pañcamahā-
8pātakun[ṟ]u Agu
1 [śrī c]ōḻamahār¡a!⟨ā⟩j(u)l(la) ◇ [c]ōḻa-mahārāju(ṟla) NS+V • I can not see a 〈ṟ〉 but only have the picture of the estampage of the edition at
my disposal. Other inscriptions show 〈la〉 or 〈lla〉, and there is no etymological justification
for/ṟla/ at this place. Confer infra.
2 [Ē](ḷa) ◇ (Ēḷa) NS+V • The 〈Ē〉 is not visible on the picture in the edition. — 2 E(r)igal • The vowel 〈i〉 looks like the typical 〈ī〉 in that it is open to the left and a little
bit curled towards the inside. But when comparing it with the other akṣaras containing this vowel it appears that the scribe would write other short 〈i〉s like
that. — 2–3 tugu/[rāju]lla ◇ tuga/(rā)juṟla NS+V • What especially sets 〈ṟla〉 apart from reading it as the common ligature 〈lla〉 is
the 90° edge on the upper right corner. This might be due to the ductus which is full
of verve; but I could not find any other instance of such a 〈la〉. On the other hand
there is a curved line below the right angle. Prima facie it is not possible to decide
what is the intended line and what a damage or slip of the chisel. In order to avoid
a reading that is not attested elsewhere and that is etymologically problematic I
read〈lla〉.
4 Ēṁba(d)[i] ◇ Ēbadi NS+V • The anusvāra is written above the akṣara 〈ba〉 as in rācamānaṁbuna. This is a common practice in Telugu inscriptions.
5 tirumu(ḷa) ◇ tiruvuḷa NS+V • The decision between 〈vu〉 and 〈mu〉 depends on whether the right stroke on top of
the akṣara is interpreted as a damage or as part of the character. All the other occurrences
of 〈va〉 (lines 6-7) have a different shape each as have all the occurrences of 〈ma〉
(lines 1, 4, 7). This diversity does not clarify the reading. — 5 Iccina ◇ Icci(na) NS+V
6 va¡kru!⟨kraṁ⟩bu ◇ vakraṁ(bu) NS+V • The first akṣara seems to open up on the right side and thus looks like a 〈da〉 or 〈ḍa〉. Yet, this
might be caused by a damage on the surface. The akṣara 〈bu〉 is clearly visible on
the picture of the estampage in the edition.
7 vacinavanṟu ◇ vacinavānṟu NS+V
8 °pātakun[ṟ]u ◇ °pātaku NS+V
While .. Cōḻa Mahārāja was ruling, Erigal Tugarāja gave a pannasa of fifty (mattars?) according to the royal measure. The pannasa was granted to the brahmin of the village Tiruvuḷu. He who obstructs (the gift) will incur the five great sins.
A pannasa given by Erigal Tugurāju while Cōḻamahārāju was ruling. A pannasa of fifty (measures of land) in royal measure given to a (or the) brahmin of Tirumuḷa. Who (so ever) attempts to reverse it will be (guilty) of the five great sins.
Between lines 6 and 7 there appears what could be read as a 〈va〉 in modern Telugu script. This akṣara, however, if it is one, is not neccessary and does not fit anywhere into the context. It therefore might be a strange form of damage.
The inscription was noted in the Annual Report and first edited by Nilakanta Sastri and Venkataramayya with a picture and annotations. Based on this edition K. M. Sastri republished the inscription and provided a translation.