Current Version: draft, 2025-01-30Z
Editor: Dániel Balogh.
DHARMA Identifier: INSVengiCalukya00083
Hand Description:
Halantas. Final M (l27, l32) is usually a simplified ma, but in l37 (twice) it seems to be the later form, a tiny circle with a single sinuous tail. Final T (l27) is a reduced ta with a short vertical tail instead of a headmark.
Original punctuation marks.
Other palaeographic observations. Anusvāra is normally above and to the right of the character to which it belongs. Long dependent ī is barely distinguishable from short (but occasionally conspicuous, e.g. l8 kīrtteḥ); I read most instances with the benefit of doubt. Rare initial Au occurs in line 22; the curved stroke at its top right, distinguishing it from O, is not clear in the estampage, but distinct in the original.
No metadata were provided in the table for this inscription
⎘ plate 1v 1sv⟦i⟧⟨⟨a⟩⟩sti[.] śrīmatāṁ sakala-bhuvana-saṁstūyamāna-mānavya-sagotrāṇāṁ hāriti-pu-
2trāṇāṁ kauś¿ī?⟨i⟩k¿i?⟨ī⟩-vara-prasāda-labdha-r¿a?⟨ā⟩jyānāṁ mātr̥-gaṇa-paripālitānā⟨ṁ⟩
3svāmi◯-mahāsena-pādānudhyātānāṁ bhagavan-n¿a?⟨ā⟩rāyaṇa-prasā(da)-s¿ā?⟨a⟩-
4m¿a?⟨ā⟩sā◯dita-vara-varāha-lāñ¿c?⟨ch⟩anekṣaṇa-kṣaṇa-vaśīkr̥tārāti-maṇḍalā(nām aśvame)-
5dhāvabhr̥¿t?⟨th⟩a-sn¿a?⟨ā⟩na-pavitr¿i?⟨ī⟩kr̥ta-vapuṣāṁ caḷukyānāṁ kulam alaṁkariṣṇoḥ svāsi-dhārā-prabh¿a?⟨ā⟩⟨vā⟩-
6varjjit¿a?⟨ā⟩śeṣa-bhūpāla-makuṭa-koṭi-m(ā)ṇi¡k(k)!⟨ky⟩a-śāṇa-kaṣaṇa-masr̥ṇa-nakha-maṇi-kiraṇa-k(e)-
7sarodbhāsita-pāda-padma-yuga¡ḷ!⟨l⟩asyānavarata-tulā-dhr̥ta-śātakumbha-viśr(ā)-
⎘ plate 2r 8 ṇana-va⟨r⟩ddhitāvadāta-kīrtteḥ sarvva-lokāśraya-śrī-viṣṇuvarddhana-mahārājasya pautra⟨ḥ⟩
ni-
9ja-bhu⟨⟨ja⟩⟩-niśitāsi-dhārā-pra⟨⟨¿s?⟨ś⟩a⟩⟩mita-para-ca¡kk!ra-vikramasyāneka-sāmanta-mauli-m(ā)-
10lā-ma◯karanda-rajaḥ-puñja-piñjarita-caraṇāravinda-dvayasyāneka-tulā-dhr̥ta-
11-svarṇṇa◯-dā⟨⟨na⟩⟩-vidhūta-pāpmana⟨ḥ⟩ niravadyodāra-guṇa-⟨⟨gaṇā⟩⟩laṁkr̥tasya śrī-vijayādi-
12tya-mahārājasya priya-tanayaḥ sva-pratāpa-śravaṇa-tat-kāla-vilīya(mā)na-para-
13-narapati-vikramaś cakrava⟨⟨r⟩⟩tti-lakṣaṇopetaś śār¿g?⟨ṅ⟩gāyudha Iva la(kṣ)m¿i?⟨ī⟩-vallabha⟨ḥ⟩ (kṣī)rā-
⎘ plate 2v 14 rṇṇava Ivātig¿ā?⟨a⟩mbhīra-sa¡t!vaḥ Anavarata-la¡ḷ!⟨l⟩ita-mada-mudita-vibhrama-bhramita-
15-laṭaha-kaṭākṣekṣaṇālakṣiteṣu makaradhvajaḥ Ari-timira-nika⟨⟨ra⟩⟩-vidhvaṁsano-
16daye◯ṣu pra¡ḷ!⟨l⟩ayādityaḥ subhaṭa-prakaṭāṭopa-kṣubhita-kolāhalā{ha}-
17{la}sa◯nna-yuddheṣu viṣamasiddhi⟨ḥ⟩ d¿i?⟨ī⟩nānātha-suhr̥{r}j-jana-dvija-bandhu-
18-¡b!⟨v⟩r̥ndāraka-mitra-bhr̥tya-kā(ṁ)kṣita-vara-pradāneṣu kāmadh(e)n(u)⟨ḥ⟩ deva-dvija-guru-caraṇ¿a?⟨ā⟩-
19nudhy¿a?⟨ā⟩tas sarvvalokāśraya-śrī-viṣṇ(u)varddhana-mahārāj(ā)dhirā⟨⟨(ja)⟩⟩-parameśvara-bhaṭṭā-
⎘ plate 3r 20 rakaḥfloretQuatrefoil gudrahāra-viṣaya-nivāsino rāṣ(ṭr)ak¿u?⟨ū⟩(ṭa)-p(ramu)kh¿a?⟨ān⟩ kuṭ¡i!⟨u⟩ṁbina⟨ḥ⟩ sarvv¿a?⟨ā⟩n i-
21t¿t?⟨th⟩(am ā)¿ña?⟨jñā⟩payati
vi¿dh?⟨d⟩itam astu vo [’]smā(bhi)[ḥ ?3×]-(vā)stavy¿a?⟨ā⟩ya kauśi¿khi?⟨ka⟩-go-
22tr¿a?⟨ā⟩ya ◯ tait⟨t⟩ir¿i?⟨ī⟩ya-sa⟨bra⟩hmacāri¿n?⟨ṇ⟩e Aul¿a?⟨u⟩(p)e[ya]-(s)ūtr(ā)ya veda-ved¿a?⟨ā⟩ṁgeti{(h)iti}-
23hāsa◯-purā¿n?⟨ṇ⟩a-vid¿e?⟨o⟩ viṣṇuś{ś}armma¿(na)?⟨ṇaḥ⟩ (pau)tr¿aḥ?⟨āya⟩ (sa)rvva-śāstra-vid¿(e)?⟨o⟩ yaj(ñ)aśa(rm)m(aṇa)⟨ḥ⟩
24putrāy¿ā?⟨a⟩ pada-vākya{ta}-¿pramana?⟨pramāṇa⟩-prabhava-cā(ru)-bh¿u?⟨ū⟩ri-kīrtt¿e?⟨aye⟩ ṣaṭ-karmma-niratāya tr¿ai?⟨ayī⟩-
25-m(ā)rgg¿a?⟨ā⟩¿ṇ?⟨n⟩u¿ś?⟨s⟩āri¿n?⟨ṇ⟩e Āyu¡-m!⟨r⟩-ārogy¿a?⟨ā⟩bhiv¿i?⟨r̥⟩ddhaye bhavvaś{ś}a⟨r⟩ma¿(na)?⟨ṇe⟩ s(o)ma-graha-
⎘ plate 3v 26 (ṇa)-nimitte ⟨⟨ra⟩⟩ndubaḷḷi nāma grāma⟨ḥ⟩ sarvva-k¿ā?⟨a⟩ra-parih¿a?⟨ā⟩re¿n?⟨ṇ⟩a Udaka-p¿u?⟨ū⟩rvva⟨ṁ⟩ k¡ri!⟨r̥⟩⟨⟨tvā⟩⟩
27dattaM
tasya Avadhaya⟨ḥ⟩[.] p¿u?⟨ū⟩rvvataḥ kalpaṭṭanabu Avadhi¿T?⟨ḥ⟩[.] dakṣi¿n?⟨ṇ⟩ata⟨⟨ḥ⟩⟩ tāḻka-
28ṭuru ◯ Avadhi¿T?⟨ḥ⟩[.] paścimataḥ niḍu(ṁ)gāḍu Avadhi¿T?⟨ḥ⟩[.] Uttarat{t}a⟨ḥ⟩ ja(kka)-
29nace◯ṟuvu Avadhi¿T?⟨ḥ⟩[.] ¡ye!⟨E⟩teṣ¿a?⟨āṁ⟩ catur-avadhayaḥ[.] Asyopari (bā?)-
30dhā na kenacit karaṇ¿(i)?⟨ī⟩y{y}ā[.] karoti yas sa pañca-mah¿a?⟨ā⟩-pātaka-saṁy{y}ukto bhava(ti)[.]
31vyāsenāpy ukta⟨M⟩
kautam¿a?⟨ā⟩cāryyeṇa likhitaM
1-21Greetings. The grandson of His Majesty King (mahārāja) Viṣṇuvardhana (III), the shelter of all the world (sarva-lokāśraya) whose pair of feet is illuminated by a nimbus of rays from the jewels that are his toenails, which have been rubbed smooth by the grindstones that are rubies at the tips of the crowns of the totality of kings bowed down by the prowess of the blade of his sword, whose clear reputation was enhanced by the ceaseless distribution of gold weighed on balance scales, ↓1 and who was eager to adorn the lineage of the majestic Caḷukyas—who are of the Mānavya gotra which is praised by the entire world, who are sons of Hāriti, who attained kingship by the grace of Kauśikī’s boon, who are protected by the band of Mothers, who were deliberately appointed (to kingship) by Lord Mahāsena, to whom the realms of adversaries instantaneously submit at the [mere] sight of the superior Boar emblem they have acquired by the grace of the divine Nārāyaṇa, and whose bodies have been hallowed through washing in the purificatory ablutions (avabhr̥tha) of the Aśvamedha sacrifice—; the dear son of His Majesty King (mahārāja) Vijayāditya (I), who repressed the onslaught of enemy armies (para-cakra-vikrama) by the sharp swordblade [wielded by his] own arm, whose pair of lotus feet were engilded by a mass of stamen dust (i.e. pollen) from the garlands on the brows of many peripheral rulers (sāmanta), whose sins were washed off by the donation of gold weighed in many a balance scale and who was adorned by a host of irreproachable (niravadya) and noble virtues: [namely] His Majesty the Supreme Lord (parameśvara) of Emperors (mahārājādhirāja) and Sovereign (bhaṭṭāraka) Viṣṇuvardhana (IV), shelter of all the world (sarva-lokāśraya), upon hearing of whose ferocity the bravery of enemy kings (para-narapati-vikrama) instantly vanishes, who possesses the bodily marks of a universal sovereign (cakravartin), who is the beloved of Royal Fortune (lakṣmī) as (Viṣṇu) the Wielder of the Śārṅga (bow) {is the beloved of Lakṣmī}, who is very profound by nature, like the ocean, who is a very Crocodile-bannered (love god) among (men) at whom (women) glance with flirtatious eyes (made all the more) appealing by a flurry of gestures delighting in ceaseless playful desire, who is a doomsday sun inasmuch as his rising dispels the dense darkness of enemies, who prevails over adversity (viṣama-siddhi) in battles thick with agitated clamour and the swaggering displays of great warriors, who is a cow of plenty (kāmadhenu) inasmuch as he grants the boons coveted by the destitute, the helpless, his friends, Brahmins (dvija), kinsmen, reputable persons,↓2 allies and underlings (bhr̥tya), and who defers to↓3 the honoured presence (pāda) of gods, Brahmins and his elders (guru)—[this Viṣṇuvardhana] commands all householders (kuṭumbin)—including foremost the territorial overseers (rāṣṭrakūṭa)—who reside in Gudrahāra district (viṣaya) as follows.
21-27Let it be known to you that on the occasion of an eclipse of the moon, for the augmentation of [our] vitality and health, we have given the village named Randubaḷḷi with an exemption from all taxes, [the donation being] sanctified by (a libation of) water, to Bhavvaśarman, a resident of [?3×] belonging to the Kauśika gotra and the Taittirīya school, of the Aulupeya sūtra, whose great good reputation arises from (his mastery of) words (grammatics, pada), sentences (linguistic analysis, vākya) and the means of knowledge (epistemology, pramāṇa), who is engaged in the six duties (of a Brahmin) and follows the path of the Veda, the grandson of Viṣṇuśarman, a scholar of the Veda, Vedāṅga, Itihāsa and Purāṇa, and the son of Yajñaśarman, a scholar of all treatises (śāstra).
27-31Its boundaries [are as follows]. To the east, the boundary is Kalpaṭṭanabu. To the south, the boundary is Tāḻkaṭuru. To the west, the boundary is Niḍuṁgāḍu. To the north, the boundary is Jakkanaceṟuvu. [It is located in the midst] of these four boundaries. Let no-one pose an obstacle (to the enjoyment of rights) over it. He who does so shall be conjoined with the five great sins. Vyāsa too has said:
39Written (likhita) by Kautamācārya.↓6
The name of the donated village was read as Raṇḍubaḷḷi for the ARIE report, while RM asserts that it is correctly Reṇḍubaḷḷi. The latter seems unlikely; however, the name may perhaps be Īṇḍubaḷḷi, which is compatible with RM’s proposed identification with the (or a) modern village Eṇḍapalle. Nonetheless, Raṇḍubaḷḷi seems to be most likely.
The grant has usually been attributed to Viṣṇuvardhana V. On the basis of circumstantial evidence (to be discussed elsewhere), I believe Viṣṇuvardhana IV is the most likely issuer, though Viṣṇuvardhana V cannot be excluded confidently, and the plates may also be a later reissue of an original grant by Viṣṇuvardhana IV.
Reported in ARIE 1914-1915: page 8, appendix A/1914–15, № 2 with discussion at ARIE 1914-1915: page 90, §10. Edited from estampages by S. S. Ramachandra Murthy (1986: № A), with facsimiles and a summary of the contents. The present edition by Dániel Balogh is based on photographs taken by myself in February 2023 at the Government Museum, Chennai, collated with Ramachandra Murthy’s edition and estampages.
↑1. That is, gold weighed on a scale against his body, the tulāpuruṣa mahādāna.
↑2. Or perhaps gods? (vr̥ndāraka)
↑3. While I consistently translate the phrase (pāda+)anudhyāta, occurring in almost all Cālukya plates in the description of kings as “deliberately
appointed by,” in this case it seems clear that the expression caraṇānudhyāta means that it is the king who pays respectful attention to the persons mentioned.
↑4. I translate the emendation suggested in the apparatus to line 37, but not included
in the body of the edition.
↑5. I assume that dharma-saṁgraha is synonymous to dharmādhyakṣa or dharmādhikaraṇika, but it may be the title of a different official, or it may be used in a non-technical
figurative sense as “storehouse of justice”.
↑6. The name may be a mistake for Gautamācārya.