1. Bhattiprolu Casket Inscription of the time of Kuberaka. Provenance: Bhattiprolu stupa Krishna district, A.P. Script: Brahmi of about the end of the third century B.C. Language: A variety of Pali Prakrit. References: G. Buhler, Ep.Ind, II,. p.323ff, Luder’s List No. 1329-39 (for other references) DC Sircar, I, pp 224-225.
Text Casket No. 1 On the rim of the lower stone 3 A. कूर-पितॄनौ च कुर-मातु च कुरष च सिव ष च मजुरां पणति फालिग-षमुगं च बुध-सरोरानं निखेतु !! B. बनव-पुतष कुरष षपीतुकष मजुष !! C. उतरो पिगह-पुतो काणीठो || संस्कृत छाया A. कुर-पितु: च कुर-मातु: च कुरस्य शिवस्य च मञ्जूषा (= पाषाण-पिटक:) | पृणीतिः (=प्रणीता = उत्सृष्टा, यद्रा निर्मिता ), स्फाटिक-समुद्गः च बुद्ध – शरीराणि (= देहावशेषान्) निक्षेप्तुम् ।। बनव-पुत्रस्य कुरस्य सपितृकस्य मञ्जूषा || (शिल्पी) उत्तर : विग्रह-पुत्रः कनिष्ठः ।।
1. Buhler, Ep.Ind., II, p. 325, places the record between the Asokan edicts (10. 3rd cent. B.C.) and the Managhat Hathigumpha and Bharahut-Torana inscriptions, the last three of which belong to about the middle of the 2nd century B.C.. but much closer to those of Asoka. He puts it not later than 200 B.C. But D.C. Sircar (Sel.Inss, I, p.224-25.n.) places it “not much earlier than 100 B.C.”. The characters of this inscription, though considerably close to Asoka’s, display remarkable variance too, indicating that the art of writing was practised in India for many centuries before the Mauryas. 2. From facsimiles in Ep.Ind.. II, three Pls.. p. 324 ff. Transcript of No. 4 is prepared from Bühler’s eye-copy 3. Buhler and Sircar omit च
English Translation A. This casket is the production of the father of Kura, the mother of Kura, Kura and Siva, and also the crystal box, (both) meant for depositing the relics of the Buddha. B. This is the casket of Kura the son of Banava, in association with his parents. C. Uttara, the youngest son of vigraha (is the engraver or the smith)
हिन्दी अनुवाद A. यह मञ्जूषा कुर के पिता, कुर की माता, कुर और शिव को निर्मिति है, और यह स्फटिक-निर्मित सन्दूक भी ( दोनों ) बुद्ध के देहावशेष रखने के लिए है ! B. बनव के पुत्र क़ुर की माता-पिता सहित यह मञ्जूषा है । C. विग्रह का कनिष्ठ पुत्र उत्तर (उत्कीर्ण करने वाला है।) Casket No. 2 On the centre of the lid A. (centre) 1. गोठि 2. हिरञ्वधवा 3. वु गाळको कालहो 4. विसको थोरसिसि 5. समणो औदलो 6. अपक (ठो) षमुदो 7. अनुग हो कुरो 8. सतुघो जेतको जे तो आलिनक 9. वरुणो पिग (ल ) को कोषको 10. सुतो सिपो कमेर (खो) गाले को 11. समण दाषो भरदो
12. ओठालो धोरतिसो तिसो
13. गीताणो जंभो
(Right) 14. पुंडर ? (आ) बो 15. गालवत भत जनको 16- गोसालकानं कूरो 17. उपोषध-पुतो उतरो 18- कारह-पुती (11) B. On the rim, to the left सम (प ) दाषतों हितनि बुधव सरिराणि महियान (=नि) षं माष (11) C. On the outer rim, to the right 1. गोठि-समनो कुबो (1) 2. हिरणकार गामणी-पुतो बूबो (।) D. On the rim of the lower stone. ष गठि निगम-पुतानं राजपामुखा (षारिरष) पुतो खुबिरको राजा षीहगोकिया पामुखो (1) तेषं अन मजूस – फाळित-षमुगौ च पाताण-तमुगो च ।। E. On the outer rim of the lower stone outside D. समणो चघ ––पुतो उतरो आरामु तर- (पु ) त (1)
B. श्रमणदातत: संगृहय हितानि ( = निहितानि) बुधस्य शरीराणि महयानि ( = पूज्यानि) शर्मणे ( सर्व सत्त्वानाम्) ।। C. गोष्ठो-श्रमणः कुम्भः हिरण्यकार:( = स्वर्णकार:) ग्रामणी-पुत्र: बूब: D. सा गोष्ठो निगम-पुत्राणां राज-प्रमुखा । शारीरसत्य पुत्र: कुबेरक: राजा सिंहगोष्ठ्या प्रमुख : ( =प्रधानः) तेषां ( =सिंह- जनानां) अन्या मंजूषा, स्फाटिक समुद्ग: च पाषाण-समुद्गग: च E. श्रमण जघन्य-पुत्र: उत्तर, आरामः तर-पुत्र: !
English Translation The Committee (consists of these people) : Hiranyavyāghrapat, Udgaraka, Kalaha, Visvaka, sthaulasirshin Sramana, Audala, Apakrishta, Samudra, Anugraha, Kura, Satrughna, Jayantaka, Jayanta, Alinaka, Varuna, Pingalaka, Kausika (or Kosnaka) , Sruta, Siva, Kuberaka, Galeka, Sramanadasa, Bharata, Audāra, Sthaulatishya, Tishya, Glana, Jambha, Pundra, Amra the brother of Galava, Janaka of the Gosalakas, Krura the son of Uposhatha and Uttara, the son of Karaha. B. (Having been collected) from Sramanadasa the exalted relics of the Buddha have been deposited for the well-being (of all creatures). Sircar: कुम्भीरक:
C. Kumbha is the monk (incharge) of the Committee. Buba, the son of the village headman is the goldsmith.
D. That Committee of guildamen is the chief administrator. Raja Kuberaka son of sharira is the Chief of the Simha Committee. of them (i.e. of the members of the Simha Committee) there is another casket, a box of crystal and a box of stone. E Uttara the son of Jaghanya is the monk, (and) Arama son of Tara.
हिन्दी अनुवाद A. हिरण्य व्याघ्रपात्, उद्गगारक, कालह, विश्वक, स्थौलशीर्षी, श्रमण, औदल, अपकृष्ट, समुद्र, अनुग्रह, क़ुर, शत्रुघ्न, जयन्तक, जयन्त, आलीणक, वरुण, पिड्-गलक, कौशिक, श्रुत, शिव, कुबेरक, गालेक, श्रमणदास, भरत, औदार, स्थौलतिष्य, तिष्य, ग्लान, जम्भ, पुण्डू, गालव का भाई आम्र, गोशालक वंशीय जनक, उपोषध-पुत्र क्रूर और कारह-पुत्र उत्तर गठ इन लोगों की गोष्टी बनाई गई है B. श्रमणदास से संग्रह करके, बुद्ध के पूजनीय देहावशेष (सब प्राणियों के ) कल्याण हेतु रखे गये हैं। C. गोष्ठी का श्रमण कुम्भ हे स्वर्णकार ग्रामणी का पुत्र बूब है D. नैगमों की यह गोष्ठी प्रमुख शासक है । शारीर का पुत्र राजा कुबेरक सिंह, गोष्ठी का प्रधान है । उन (अर्थात सिंह गोष्ठी ) के मंजूषा, स्फटिक निर्मित सन्दूक और शिला-निर्मित सन्दूक अन्य हैं । E. श्रमण जघन्य-पुत्र उत्तर है, और तर-पुत्र आराम ।
1. Note that in India the goldsmith’s job includes work on precious stones. The reference seems to be to the fashioning of the crystal box.
Ancient India witnessed a glorious period, wherein, India was blessed with the noblest among noble souls. Nothing was left undone by God, while blessing India. This made India, the most extraordinary country in the world. India had the first civilization. India had the first accumulation of material wealth. she was populous with great thinkers and subtle intellects; she had mines, woods, and noble souls. One among the great ancient king, was King Kuberka. King Kuberaka was ruling over Bhattiprolu around 230 BCE. Bhattiprolu is a small village in Guntur of Andhra Pradesh. The original name of Bhattiprolu was Pratipalapura, a flourishing town of ancient Sala kingdom that predated Andhra. Raja Kubereka was son of dhavira, who was once the Chief of the Simha Committee. Kumbha was the monk of the village Committee and Buba– the son of the village headman, namely Aliad. From available inscriptional evidence, King Kuberaka was ruling over Bhattiprolu around 230 BCE. Bhattiprolu is well known for its Buddha Stupa also (Vikramarka kota dibba) built about 3rd-2nd century BCE. This script was written on an urn containing Buddha’s relics. The script is brahmi and has also been named Bhattiprolu script. Archeological excavations prove that Bhattiprolu existed during the 3rd Century BC, having links with the Brahmi script that was later on known as Bhattiprolu script. During the ancient period, Raja Kuberka took the responsibility in preserving the remnants of Lord Buddha. The king was loved by his subjects & had built several temples in the kingdom.
First two Inscriptions talk about the Asokan edicts (3rd cent. BC) and The Nanaghat, Batbigumpha and Bharahute Torana inscriptions, the last three of which belonged to about the middle of the second century B.C, but much closer to those of Ashoka’s. He puts it not later than 200 BCe ‘The characters of this inscription, though considerably close to Ashoka’s displayed remarkable variance too, indicating that the art of writing was popularly practised in India for many centuries before the Mauryas. The script of these inscriptions is brahmi of about 3rd century BC. These bhattiprolu inscriptions, are of the time of kuberka and from the province Bhattiprolu of Krishna district AP. This casket was produced by the father of Kura, the mother of Kura & Kura himself and Siva. They ordered the preparation of a casket and another box of crystal in order to deposit some relics of Budha.
This is the casket of Kura, the son of Banava. On the centre of casket no 2 is:-
“The Committee (consists of) : — Hiranavaghava (Hiranyavydghrapdd) Vugalaka ( Udgdraka), Kajaha, Visaka ( Visvaka), Thorasisi (Sthaidasirshi), Samana (Sramana), Odala, Apaka, Sha- muda (Samudra), Anugaha (Anugraha), Kura, Satugha (Satrnghna), Potaka, Pota, Alinaka (Alinaka?), Varuna, Pigalaka (Pingalaka^, Koshaka (Kaus- ika?), Suta, Papa, (Kabherakha ?) (Kuberaka?), Galeka (?), Samaina[d]asha (Sramanaddsa), Bharada (Bharata) (L. 12), Odala (Anddra?) Thoratisa (Sthau- latishya), Tisa (Tishya), Gilana (Gland), Jambha Buba . Janaka, of the Gosalakas (Gosdlaka), Kura, the son of Uposhatha, (Ujiosa- tha), Utara (Uitara), the son of Karaha. Having been collected from Sramanadass, the exalted relics of the Budha have been deposited for the well being of all.
He said, “Kumba was monk incharge & Buba the goldsmith was son of headman. While Kuberka son of Sharira was the chief of simha committee Uttara the son of Jaghanya was monk. Sanatna Dharma has a glorious past of righteous brahmin kings who personified fearlessness and valor. These kings were devoted to righteousness and were always keen on the all-round progress of their people. The subject was very happy with their kings, who were guided by rishis/gurus.
The people of Bharat were also happy, prosperous, and of good moral conduct. The kings would patronize many artists and would wholeheartedly support the arts. They would never attack others except in self defense even though they were capable of conquering the entire planet. Similarly, in the later part of their life, they would hand over the reins of their kingdom to their heir and would perform spiritual practice further by voluntary acceptance of Vanaprasthasrhram. The remembrance of such great kings who have created the glorious history of Hindus is an incessant source of inspiration for everyone. Every incident in the life of these great heroes is a witness to their brilliant capabilities. Some special events in the lives of these bright kings have been given ahead to awaken the extinct pride in the minds.
