78. Mathura Bodhisattva Image Inscription of the time of
Kanishka 1 – (Year 23 AD. 101)
Provenance: Mathura, U.P. Now in Curzon Archaeological
Museum, Mathura.
Script: Brahmi
Language: Prakrit influenced by Sanskrit.
References AS.I. manual report for 1920-21, D-35: B.C. Chhabra Ep.Ind XVIII, Pp 42-44, D-C. Sircar. Sel.Inss, I, p- 146 (No. 45 A)
Text of Inscription
महरस्य कणि 20+3 ग्र ऐतस्य पूर्वय वहा रिस्य् यस्य गुतस्य पिता पुश्यद
बोधिसत्व प्र त्ह ष्टपय ति
स्वके विहरे सर्व सत्वनं
हितसुखाय भवतु
English Translation
The first day of summer of the year 23 of Maharaja Kanishka, on this aforesaid date, Pushya datta, the
daughter of the magistrate Matsyagupta establishes this
Bodhisattva in her own monastery. May it be conducive to the welfare and happiness of all creatures.
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind.XVIII, Plate facing p.44
2. Apparently an abbreviation for महाराजस्य कनिष्कस्य संवत्सरे
3. Contraction for ग्रीष्म – मासे but the day or month is not stated. Presumably the figure 1, is meant for the very 1st day of the summer season. thereby making
Specific mention of the month is therefore not required.
4. Chhabra महारस्य
corrected महाराजस्य but the
first akshara is clearly व not म mentioned
Sircar’s suggestion that वोहारिस्य (skt व्यवहारिकस्य)
i.e of the magistrate is meant
is plausible.
Text
1. महरस्य कणि 20 + 3 ग्र 1 एतस्य पुर्वयं वहारिस्य
मस्यगुतस्य धिता पुग्यद । ता
2. a . बोधिसत्व
b . प्र त् ( इ ) ष्ट्पय । ति ।
3. स्वके विहरे [ सर्व-सत्वनं । हितसुखाय भवतु * संस्कृत छाया
महाराजस्य कनि । ष्कस्य संवत्सरे त्रयोविंशे २३ र्मी ( ष्म
– ऋ तो:
। एतस्या पूर्वायां ‘ । तिथौ । व्यवहारिण मत्स्य गुप्तस्य दुहिता पुष्यदत्ता बोधिसत्त्वं
= तस्य प्रतिमां प्रतिष्ठापयति = स्वके विहारे । सर्व सत्त्वानां [हित-सुखाय भवतु ।
हिन्दी अनुवाद
महाराजा कनिष्क के तेईसवें २३ वर्ष में ग्रीष्म ऋतु के 1 म दिन इस पूर्वोक्त तिथि में व्यवहारिक = धर्माध्यक्ष = मैजिस्ट्रेट मत्स्यगुप्त की पुत्री पुष्यदत्ता अपने बिहार में बोधिसत्त्व (प्रतिमा) प्रतिष्ठित करती है। सब प्राणियों हित तथा सुख के लिए होवे !
Citation requested
For
Sanskrit, Hindi & English Translation of the ancient Inscriptions by Dr Mehta Vasishtha Dev Mohan –
Citation requested
Kindly Visit
http://ancientindia.co.in/research-papers/
Research scholars of religious and political history of India are requested to give due Citation to this research work.
They may download the material from
following link:-
https://archive.org/details/@alok1954
-
http://sasnagar.co.in/aman/ancientindia/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FILE-VOLUME-I-1.pdf