King Bhagamoya-Apaca Stone Casket Inscription

Written by Alok Mohan on May 20, 2022. Posted in Uncategorized

50. #Apaca Stone #Casket #Inscription of King #Bhagamoya
(Azes) Year 77
Provenance: Apaca, Bajaur, Afghanistan.
Language: North- Eastern Prakrit.
Script: Kharoshthi

English Translation of the Inscription

In the year Seven together with seventy (Seventy seventh) in era stated by the great King Aya, on the day
twenty four (24) of the month Sravana, by the War (i e. Defence Minister, the vice-king Bhagamoya the Son of Subhtiutika Bhagamoya) were deposited all relics of the Lord Sakyamuni, in a place not previously deposited in, in their own little shrine of the kasyapiya in the Athayi village, after all the Buddhas were honored with Puja/Worship, after all pratyaka sambhuddhas, Arhats, Sravakas (Lay disciples) were honoured. These relics were deposited by me together with my wife Davili and with sons Indra Varnana and Manamha. Mother and father are honoured. The brother Indrasena, the kinsmen Vijayamitra, king of Akhota, are honored with Puja, with the dispersal of heavy gonarda perfumed oil. The sons of dependents are honoured in all approved Puja/worship.
This body relic of Buddha, which destroys the doubts longings to Akanksha and infatuation (Moha) have been caused to be worshipped by the sons of my sons and all the subjects.

Reference
H W Bailey, J.R.A.S No. 2 (1982).
Page:144-55
From the facsimile in J.R.A.S. No- 2, 1982, Pls. IV-VIII, page 144-48.
2. The data here is clearly given
in a reckoning connected with Maharaja Aya ie the great king Azes, and sets at rest the great controversy ranging for many years past regarding the date given in saka and kushan Inscriptions.
3. The same phrase occurs in the Shinkot Casket Inscripiton
of Maninder and Vijayamitra and Vijayakamitra. (Ep. Ind. XXVI, Page 7 and XXVI Page 318 FF) where it has been rendered into skt. (Apratyaraj interpreted as Samantraj by , Dr. DC. Sircar, Sel.Inss, I,Page 105-106) According to Bailey, Paca in Apaca) represents Baja in Bajaur.
The Latter seems to be a growth from
Avacapura or Apacapura (See Supra No 11, non Aprvagraj) Shtralocane The first
part Shatr is definitely from “shat” to slay destroy or fight.
Bailey (op.cit, P.15l, n.5) traces
from the Khotanese or south-west Iranian rd in the base/yard to control, to instruct; and treats -eka or ika – as a suffix indicating Profession or
a trade. But I would iike to trace the entire word from the Sanskrit which means to destroy, to eradicate, to clear.
This would mean the General incharge of eradicating the country of enemies.
Bailey traces mata the suffix “tra” in matrava to a zoroastrian pahalvi and Armenian word matiyan and to
the older parthrian form matakarar (matakadara) for intendant, one Incharge of basic materials. To me
Matrava is the same designation as often occurs in Ashokan edicts as a 3n matra in mahamatra. ( Great minister “Shtralocane or Matravane” simply means “by the minister incharge”
of dealing with the enemies or in modern term “The Defence Minister”

1. Bailey: “udtravnri” But what he reads “Pa” is clearly “Va” and an indistinct letter he reads as “Na” in “vnri”
Seems to be cancelled strokas of a letter traced incompletely by mistake. His explanation for the word in the footnote is far-fetched. “Tanuvr” occurs in the sense of “his own”
2. There is an additional stroke to the right under “Ta” here and some of the following words. It possibly distinguishes the fricative from ordinary words.
3. What looks like a loop (Matra for u) under the word is the curve of anusvara.
4. Bailey It is a single letter, but he reads the upper parts & lower parts differently.
5. The first akshra appears to be “E” rather then “V” but even the sense of “Ikro” is not clear
7 From J.R.A.S No 2, 1982, Pl. IV(a) Page 144 and Pl VIII Page 148
It is clear that the text is distributed in five lines but the facsimile being in nine sections, it is not easy to mark out a line, which appears 1.1 above, what appears in Bailey’s and our text as 1.2. So this portion is also put without 1.2.
1. Vijay Mitra figures in Bajaur casket Inscripiton. I have tentatively followed Bailey in translating it into kinsman, which is conjectural.
2. The phrase in the inscription means
“Worshipped by by flourishing in the incense of gonardha.
3. Another phrase in the inscription means “To destroy to annihilate
4. Bailey derives “palolshi” from a dialect form of sogdian, Zoroastrian Pahlavi
In the sense of punishment.

Alok Mohan

The admin, Alok Mohan, is a graduate mechanical engineer & possess following post graduate specializations:- M Tech Mechanical Engineering Production Engineering Marine engineering Aeronautical Engineering Computer Sciences Software Engineering Specialization He has authored several articles/papers, which are published in various websites & books. Studium Press India Ltd has published one of his latest contributions “Standardization of Education” as a senior author in a book along with many other famous writers of international repute. Alok Mohan has held important positions in both Govt & Private organisations as a Senior professional & as an Engineer & possess close to four decades accomplished experience. As an aeronautical engineer, he ensured accident incident free flying. As leader of indian team during early 1990s, he had successfully ensured smooth induction of Chukar III PTA with Indian navy as well as conduct of operational training. As an aeronautical engineer, he was instrumental in establishing major aircraft maintenance & repair facilities. He is a QMS, EMS & HSE consultant. He provides consultancy to business organisations for implimentation of the requirements of ISO 45001 OH & S, ISO 14001 EMS & ISO 9001 QMS, AS 9100, AS9120 Aero Space Standards. He is a qualified ISO 9001 QMS, ISO 14001 EMS, ISO 45001 OH & S Lead Auditor (CQI/IRCA recognised certification courses) & HSE Consultant. He is a qualified Zed Master Trainer & Zed Assessor. He has thorough knowledge of six sigma quality concepts & has also been awarded industry 4, certificate from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation Knowledge Hub Training Platform  He is a Trainer, a Counselor, an Advisor and a Competent professional of cross functional exposures. He has successfully implimented requirements of various international management system standards in several organizations. He is a dedicated technocrat with expertise in Quality Assurance & Quality Control, Facility Management, General Administration, Marketing, Security, Training, Administration etc. He is a graduate mechanical engineer with specialization in aeronautical engineering. He is always eager to be involved in imparting training, implementing new ideas and improving existing processes by utilizing his vast experience.