Inscription number 67
Bhavnagar Plates of Dhruvasena 1,
(Valabhi-Gupta) Year 210 (529 A.D.)
Provenance Not Known.
Presented by Bhavnagar Darbar to
Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay in 1914 A.D.
Script: Brahmi, Western variety of the Southern Class.
Language: Sanskrit.
References: V.S. Sthankar Ep.Ind, XV, pp-255-58.
Footnote 1
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind, XV, facing pp.256.
2. The text of the first ten lines end the first nine syllables of 1.11, is practically identical with the text of the Palitana Plate of Dhruvasena 1, dated 15th
sukla of Samvat 210 (see supra II.-66, and Ep.Ind XI, pp.109 ff,). The only varial lections excepting
orthographic mistakes, are
– In the present grant OM,
is missing before svasti in 1.1, in 1.3 the present grant reads Bhattakkas for Bhatakkah in 1.5 and pada-pranama
for padabhipranama in 1.6.
3. Sukthankar बोधय व्यस्त ( =त्यस्तू )
4. Chhedakapadraka
cannot be identified
5. Sukthankar चदद्रवकस्कम्भ (फय) क प्रत्यय
Footnote 2
1. Valapadra Cannot be identifed.
2. The primeval sage Kasyapa, the son of Marichi, had 13 wives eg. Aditi, Diti, Danu etc. whose sons were
surnamed after ther respective mothers for the sake of distinction One of the wives named Muni, had 16 sons.
Their matronynic, Mauna, became a gotra name and has possibly survived in the Caste name Mohan among
Panjabi Mohyal Brahmanas. Mohans claim Kasyapa as their Gotra Pravara, ie. the originator of their lineage.
Footnote 3
1. Halanta m is indicated by extending its left upper arm in an arch above it.
2. Mammaka seems to have died shortly after executing this
grant as we find that in the Palitana grant issued in the year 210,
on the 9th day of dark fortnight, Bhadrapada, the dutaka was Rudradhara (See infra, II, 68)
It is to be noted that the months in Valabhi era were amanta ie. they began on the 1st day of the bright fortnight
3. This line begins under क: in मम्मक:
4. Sukthankar 10+3, This line begins under व n श्रावण
English Translation of the inscription
For L1-12 contain the usual preamble. For translation, see that of the opening lines of the Palitana plates of Dhruvasena 1, of the year 206, (Inscription number 59)
L.13- 23- Be it known to you, that for increasing the religious
merit of my mother and father and for purpose of attainment of the reward desired (by me) in this world and the next, I have given as brahmdaya with libation of water fifty padavarttas
of land, the holding of chadravaka and Anbhapyaka on the eastern boundary o the village of Chhedakapadraka in
the district aharani of Hastavapra and a well with udumbara trees with a periphery of sixteen padavarttas together, on the northern a boundary of Malakara, together with income from elements including wind together
with cash revenue hiranyadeva, to the Brahmana Nanna, of Monna
(Mauna) gotra, a student of chchhandog (school) and an
Inhabitant of Valapadra for the performance of rites, such as
bali, charu, Vaisvadeva and others to endure so long as the
moon, the sun, the ocean the earth, rivers and mountains do, to
be enjoyed by his sons grandsons and their progeny. wherefore,
co ths porson
no one shall cause the least obstruction/and question his rights, while he is enjoying, cultivating or getting(it) cultivated or assigning it to some one else, in accordance with
the established terms and conditions applicable to a Brahmadaya.
The kings born in our family and the noble kings to come, should approve of this gift of ours,considering the transitoriness of wealth, the importance of human life and the commonness of the
rewards for land-gifts. And he who confiscates it or approve
of its confiscation, shall be joined to the five great sins together with the minor sins. And in this context there are
verses sung by Vyasas:
L.23-25 (Here follow three of the customary imprecatory verses.
L-26-29: This is the sign manual of me, the Maharaja Dhruvasena,
The Dutaka is Pratihara Mamaka. written by Kikkaka,
The Year 210. The 12th of the dark fortnight of the month of Sravana.
Inscription number 68.
68
Palitana Plates of Dhruvasena 1, (Valabhi-Gupta) year 210 (-529 A.D.)
Provenance: Palitana, Gujrat.
Script: Brahmi Western variety of the Southern Class.
Language: Sanskrit
References 1) First half (first Plate) V.S. Sukthankar, Ep.Ind, XVII, pp-108-9.
2) Second half (second Plate)a D,B. Diskalkar, Ep.Ind, XIX, pp.125-27.
Footnote 1
1. This first plate, which bears the first half of the Inscription was discovered, along with several other copper-plates bearing six different Valabhi grants
at the bottom of a small tank outside the Shatrunjaya Gate at Palitana, while the tank was being drained, in or before 1918 AD. The second plate was found at Iyaveja, 16 km, South-West of Palitana.
One of the six grants found in the tank was edited by V.S. Sukthankar in
EP.Ind. XI, pp.105-108 and the remaining five by Sten Konow in Ep.Ind, XI, pp.104ff . Sukthankar has
omitted to transliterate the first 11 lines, as being a repetition of the text of the Palitana Plates of the
year 206 of Dhruvasena 1.
2. Possibly the same as the modern vadnagar, the home of Nagar brahmanas.
Footnote 2
From the measurements the distance between the ring holes, the characters and the opening words, It is clear that it is the second half of the grant,
whose first half was published in Ep.Ind, XVII, pp-108 ff,
2. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind, XIX, facing pp.126.
3. i.e An unused well filled with earth, suggests Diskalkar. The word bhollaram is obscure. Its adjective
dvadasa-padavartta-parisaram, indicates that whatever
it was, it comprised a large area of twelve padavarttas in area.
I have tentatively translated the phrase as, a well complex twelve padavarttas in area,”
Footnote 3
He figures as dutaka in all the subsequent grants of Dhruvasena 1, But in earlier grants the dutaka was
Mammaka
2. Engraved in the right hand lower corner of the plate, under the letters लिखि in 1.14. He figures as the
Writer in all the preceding as well as the subsequent grants of Dhruvasena 1.
English Translation of the inscription.
(For translation of 11,1-14 in the first Plate, see his Palitana charter of the 206, above. No 50)
Be it fully known to you that I have donated with libation of water a hundred padavarttas (of land) on the
south-eastern boundary of Bhadarenika village (situated) in Surashtra to the Brahmana Santiserman of Atreya gotra a student of Vajasaneya shakha (of the Yajurveda) ( and) a resident of
Nagara and also another hundred padavarttas on the same boundary and
a well complex, twelve padavarttas in area to his brother Davasarman to be enjoyed by (their) sons, grandsons and future progeny for as long as the moon the sun, the oceans, the stability of the earth, the rivers and the mountains last.
For the Performance of the rites of bali, charu vaisvadeva and others, for the increase of religious merit of my mother and father and in order to obtain for myself in this world and
the next such rewards as I wish. Wherefore, not even a slight
obstruction or objection be caused by any persons to these two, while enjoying (this gift in accordance with the traditional rights attached to gifts to Brahmanas, cultivating it or getting
it cultivated or assigning it (to others).
And this our gift, be assented to by those born in our lineage and by future kings bearing in mind the impermanence of royal power the instability of human life and common share in the reward of a gift of land.
And he who confiscates it or assent to its confiscation, incurs
the guilt of five great sins together with the minor sins. There are also in this context verses sung by Vyasas
(He follows three of the traditional imprecatory verses).
The year 210, 9th day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada. Signature from my own hand, of Maha-samanta
Maharaja Dhruvasena.
Dutaka is Rudradhara and written by
Kikkaka.
Inscription number 69.
Palitane Plates of Dhruvasena 1- Gupta-Valbhi Year 210 ( 529-30 AD.)
Provenance: Palitana, Gujrat (from the under ground Chamber adjoining a tank).
Script: Brahmi. Western variety of the Southern class.
Language: Sanskrit.
Reference: Sten-Konow, Ep.Ind., XI,
pp- 112-14.
(It may be noted that later Valabhi records the name has been sanskritised into भटार्क्क)
Footnote-1
The two dots of the visarga got joined together because the scribe failed to lift his pen. Engraver has copied the mistake here as well as in 11, 22, 23
and 25 below
2. The second is unnecessary.
3. Read: नृपतिभिश्चानित्यान्यैश्वयर्याण्यस्थिर मानुशष्यं सामान्यं
English Translation of the inscription
L1.115 (are practically identical with 11.1-15 of his Palitana plates of the year 206. For translation
see Inscription 59)
Ll.16-19 “Be it known to you that on the northern border of the village Akrolaka, I have confirmed according to
the established customary laws for the Brahmana skanda
of Aupavasti gotra and a student of Vajasaneya sakha and a resident of the same place, the same step-well with a periphery of twelve padavarttas and
thirty padavarttas are able land, as had formerly been and are still being enjoyed by him, for the increase
of religious merit of my mother and father and for obtaining for myself the rewards according to my desire in this world and in the next.
(Ror the translation of 11.20 to 23, see his Palitana plates of the year 206, 11,22 to 26, above Inscription No 59)
(Here follow three of the customary imprecatory verses).
The sign manual of me, the Mahasamanta the Maharaja
Dhruvasena. The executor is Rudradhara, written by
Kikkalka. The year 210, the 5th (tithi) of the dark or bright) fortnight of (the month of Asvin.
(Konow amends it to could as well be