Pedda-Dugam Plates of Shatrudamana

Satrudamana is the name of an ancient king mentioned in this “Peddadugam

plates of Satrudamana” (5th century A.D.). He ruled from Siṃhapura, which has been identified with modern Singupuram near Srikakulam. King Shatrudamana mentioned in this inscription, is one among the earlier rulers, who had issued the charters from Simhapura. These plates were discovered during laying down of  foundation of a house in the village Pedda-Dugam in Narasannapet Taluk of the Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh. The plates were issued to the villagers headed by Brahmaṇas, residing in different localities.

Provenance: Pedda-Dugam Narssannapet taluk, Srikakulam

district, Andhra Pradesh.

Peddadugam village is located in Jalumuru mandal of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is situated 5km away from sub-district headquarter Jalumuru and 30km away from district headquarters of Srikakulam.

Script: Brahmi of the southem class, of about the 5th century A.D.

Language: Sanskrit.

References: V. Bhanumurty, Bharati, Telugu, March, 1955, pp.86 ff. J.A.H.R.S, XX XI, pp.159 ff. D.C.

Sircar, Ep.Ind, XXXI, pp.89 ff.

Footnote 1.

1. This charter, for the first time, reveals

 the existence of King Satru-damana, who ruled in central Kalinga from Simhapura, identifed with singupuram near Sriikakulam. His family affiliation is not known, It is tempting to connect him with Daman of Erandapalla

(also in central Kalinga) whom Samudragupta is known,

from his Allahabad prasasti to have captured and reinstated. But beyond the similarity of names, we have no evidence to do so.

According to Sircar, he preceded the kings of the Pitribhakta, Mathara and

Vasishtha families, who are known from their charters to have ruled in this area in the 5th and early 6th

centuries A.D. His epithet Bhattaraka-pada-parigrihita,

evidently refers to the title, Parama-bhattaraka, of the

Imperial Guptas, and indicates that he acknowledged the overlordship of the contemporary Gupta emperor. His

silence about the name of his sovereign shows that he enjoyed considerable autonomy.

Footnote 2.

1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind., X, between pp.92 and 93.

2. Expressed by the usual spiral symbol.

3. Simha-pura is identified with modern Singupuram in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh.

4. The temples in ancient India were named after their builders.

His devotion to the divinity of the temple built by Damana further suggests Satrudamana’s descent from him.

5. Duha-grama seems to be identical with Pedda-Dugam

( literally, Greater Dugam) the find-spot of the charter.

6. The modern telgu numeral 2, is engraved on the left margin. A similar figure for 1 is found on the blank side of the first plate.

Second plate second side.

The proper place for this sentence is after the next one.

Footnote 3.

1. Engraved on the left margin.

2. Amsuman is evidently used here in the sense of Sitamsuman i.e the moon.

English Translation of the inscription.

Om! From the victorious city of Simha-pura, the illustrious Maharaja Satrudamanadeva, who is devoted to the Lord Damanesvarasvamin and is favoured by His Majesty (the

emperor) writes, after enquiring about their well-being in body and other matters, to the villagers led by Brahmanas, in the villages, of Duhagrama, Vasuvataka and Govataka within the Varddhamana agrahara of Giri-Kalinga district.

All these three hamlets have been granted making them, a Brahmana fief (i.e. an agrahara) by me, to these two Brahmanas, namely Vappasarman and Sarvasarman, who are the sons of

Yajnasarman, who belongs to Kaundinya gotra, who are students of

Taittiriya sakha of the Yajurveda and who are the residents of Pattuva-grama, for the increase of my own religious merit.

Therefore, you should hear and execute their orders of this property, two shares are assigned to Sarvasarman and one

share to Vappasarman. You should present them all the lawful profits, such as measurable (meva) commodities etc. In this context there are verses

v.1: He, who welcomes a meritorious act even mentally, waxes i.e prospers to his heart’s content like the moon

during the bright fortnight.

(Here follow three of the oft-repeated customary verses.)

This has has been written (by me) (Dated) the year ninth,

9th, the tenth day of the month of Ashadha The executor of

the grant, the physician Krishnadatta.