Sharabhapuriya kings were very religious and worshipped lord vishnu & lord Krishna. They believed in Vaishnavism and undertook all out efforts for spread of Vaishnavaism.
Most of the grants in the form of lands, were made by them for construction of sanatana Dharma temples.
Inscription number 55.
Arang plates of Maha-Sudevaraja (Regnal) Year 8.
Provenance: Arang, Ralpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
Script: Box headed variety of Brahmi.
Language: Sanskrit.
Metres
V.l वसन्ततिलका
V.2 इन्द्रवज्रा
vv.4-6 अनुष्टुब
References: LP. Pandeya, Ep.Ind., XXIII, pp.18-22.
Footnote-1.
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind. XXII, facing pp.20.
2. Expressed by a symbol.
3. Various identifications suggested merely on similarity of names are sambalpur in Orissa, Sirpur (old Sripura)
the ancient capital of Kosala on the bank of the Mahanadi in Raipur district, Sarabhavaram in Godavari
district, Sarapgarh or sarabpur in the former Gangpur state in the E.S.A., and Sarawa village in Bilaspur district
4. वा is engraved half-size a little lower than the other letters, because the upper space is occupied by
the subscript y in ddhya in 1.3.
Second plate second side.
Footnote-2.
1. Ram left out through oversight, was later inserted under the line and anusvara is placed on ka. A tiny cross
above the next letter ja is meant to draw the reader’s attention to the missing letter.
2. Ta left out inadvertently is later inserted below line under the ring-hole.
Third plate First side.
Footnote-3.
1. The marks of punctuation represented by two horizontal strokes are not required.
2. The marks of punctuation are Superfluous.
English Translation of the inscription.
Om Hail ! From Sarabhapura. The illustrious Maha Sudevaraja, the great devotee of Bhagavat (vishnu) and
meditating on the feet of his mother and father, giver of wealth land and cows, a cause of removal of hair-do of the enemy’s wives, one whose two feet are washed by water that is a spray of light from the crest-jewels in the crowns of the feudatories made to submit by his valour; commands the
householders living in Sivilingaka, bel.
onging to the province of Tosadda.
Be it known to you that this village, as a means of conferring heaven, happiness and prestige, having been bestowed together with major and minor treasures, not to be entered by the Begar officers and soldiers, and
freed Erom all taxes, through a copper-charter by Pratihara (chamberlain) Bhogilla, for the increase of religious merit of his
mother, father and himself , to be enjoyed for as long as the
world, whose terrible darkness is expelled by the rays of the
sun, the moon and the stars, lasts, to Yajnasvamin of Katyayana
gotra and a student of Madhyandin-Vajasaneya sakha (of the white Yaiuryeda) to the extent of one and a half share, to Kumaravatsa of Bharadvaja gotra and Yajna svamin of Atreya gotra and Kanva sakha of the vajasaneyi samhita (of the white Yajurveda) to the extent of one share each (and) to the extent of half a share each to visakha-svamin of
Katyayana gotra, Golasvamin of Kaushika gotra and a student
of the Madhyandin sakha, likewise to Damodarsvamin, Damasvamin,
Panchalisvamin of Bharadvaja gotra, and Ayanika Dikshita, and we have approved it. So having learnt accordingly you should live on happily always offering them due share of enjoyment and remaining obedient to their orders. And to future kings he points outs-
1. The ancient sages, with clearly settled views on religious duties and merits, pronounce the merit accruing from the maintenance of old donations, to be superior to the donation itself, Therefore, your minds should work
towards protection of the land given in charity, to a Brahmana of very pure family and learning.
Therefore, you should also preserve this gift.
The verses sung by Vyasa are quoted in this context.
2. Gold is the first offspring of Agni, the land that of Vishnu and the Cows are the daughters of the Sun. All the
three worlds are given by him, who gives gold cows and land.
Year 7, 29th day of vaisakha.
By oral order of the king.
Footnote.
1. Earlier left out through oversight, the syllables, dana are incised below the line along with a kakapada mark.
2. Pandeyas ८,
3. The words in paranthesis followed by an asterisk are restored from his other plates.
4. L.P. Pandey identifies Tosadda with the Tosara village in the former Patna state. E.S.A. Ep.Ind. XXIII, pp.20), V.V. Mirashi had identified it with
Tusda near Dumarpalli, about 46 km, to the S.E. of Arang. Sivilingaka is not traceable near about Arang and sirpur (old sripura).
5. Stable is the rule of the illustrious sudevaraja, who was born of the moon that was Manamatra, who in turn was
sprung from the ocean that was Prasanna.