The Gadhwa Stone Inscriptions, are early 5th-century Sanskrit inscriptions discovered in different parts of ancient India.
These Inscriptions highlight the fact that the Indian kings were aware of their responsibility towards society, as these Inscriptions are the evidences, of existence of institutions, looking after the poor .
The tradition of charitable feeding houses for Brahmins and the needy can be traced to the mid-2nd century CE in several Kushana inscriptions. The inscriptions suggests that the Hindu temples had charity-based community kitchens shich fed the poor and sadhus. and the destitute.
Inscription no 142
Gadha (Jasdan) Stone Inscription of Rudrasena I
Saka year 127 (=205 A D.)
Provenance: Garha, near Jasdan, Rajkot distict. Gujrat.
Now in watson Museum of antiquities. Rajkot.
Script: Brahmi early Southern gupta variety.
Language: Sanskrit influenced by Prakrit.
From the facsimile in EP.Ind. XVIII, facing pp.340.
References:
Bhau Daji, J.B.B. R.A.S VIII, pp.234 f.
Hoernle, Ind.ant, pp-32f, -Bhagwanl lal
Indraji and Rapson J.R.A.S, 1890, pp.652, Rapson, B.M.C., pp 1xii. Number 42, Luder’s list no. 967; D.R Bhandarkar. A.S.I. Reports. W, Circle, 1914-15.
pp.67-68, R. D. Banerji and V.S. Sukthankar. Ep. Ind.XVI, pp.236-39
D.C. Sircar Select.Inss, pp.185-86.
1.
From the Facsimile in Ep.Ind.. XVI,pp 237,
2. Bhandarkar and Sukthankar alternatively suggest.
The Mulwasar stone inscription now in
the Dwarka Library, has the date
राझो महा क्षत्रपस स्वामि रुद्र तेनस्य वर्षे वैशाख बहुल पँचम्या
and records the
erection of a Sila-Yashti by the sons of Vanijaka.
See Luđers’ list, number. 962.
1. भद्रमुख = having an auspicious face: cf. the Abhijnanaa-Sakuntalam VII.
2. Bandarkar reads शव त्र
and others शत्र
Bhau Daji translates it as tank.
Hoernle connects it with सत्र a kind of expensive some sacrifice extending
over many days and takes in the sense of liberality munificence. Luder takes it to be the सत seat of a cave Inscription.As already pointed out by
Banerji and Sukthankar, the word ऊथावित clearly implies the erection or raising of a structure.
Banerji connects the word सत्र with
the change of सत
“almshouse” but the change of स into श is difficult to explain.
According to D.C. Sirkar, it apears to indicate a lath or pillar raised in memory of Kharapartha by his brothers.
In that case, the last word in l .6 should be read as
3. Hoernle Bhau Daji मान तु तुंगोत्रस्य प्रता र थक Bahu Daji सप्रनाधक
4. Bahu Daji and Hoernle:खरपौंत्रस्य
Bhandarkar: खरपीत्थस्य
Banerji and Sukthankar खरर्पत्थस्य
apparently redundant र is inserted after and above खर
5. Banerji and Sukthankar भ्रात्रभि Bhandarkar भ्रात्त्रभि
6. Bhauji Daji. उत्थाविथास्व Hoernle उत्थावितास्ति
7. Sirkar स्व र्ग followed by सुखार्थ, I agree with
Sircar that there are tracees of three aksharas below line 6.
Banerji and sukthankar think that.
Text
1. व [र्ष ] 100(+)20+(2) [7] [भा ] द्रपद बहुलस (1) the Dwarka Library, has the date
राझो महा क्ष(त्र) पस
2. भद्रसु = मु खस स्वाम चष्टन-पुत्र प् (र ) पौत्रस्य राझो क्ष(त्र) पस
3. स्वामी [ज] यदम पुत्र पौत्रस्य राझो महाक्षत्रपस्य। भद्र मुख (स्य)
4. स्व म रुद्र दाम पौ (त्र) स्य राझो महाक्षत्रपस्य भ
(द्रमु ) खस्य स्वामि
5. रुद्रसिंह (पुत्र)स्य राझो महाक्षत्रपस्य स्वामि रुद्रसेनस्य इदं
शान्यं
6. मानस-सगो [त्र ] स्य प्र [ता ] शक-पुत्रस्य खर व [T] त्र्थस्य
भ्रातृभिः उत्थावित स्त [ म्भ ]
7. स्वर्ग सुखा त्र्थ
English Translation of the inscription
In the year 127, on the 5th (day of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapada (in the reign of the king Mahakshatrapa, Lord
Rudrasimha. (son of the king, the Mahakshatrapa, Lord Rudrasimha,
of auspicious appearance and son’s son of king, the Mahakshatrapa, Lord Rudradaman of auspicious appearance; (and) grandson of the son of the king, the Kshatrapa Lord Jayadaman,
(and) great-grands son of the son of the king, the Mahakshatrapaa, Lord Chashtana of auspicious appearance, is this stone pillar.
This (pillar?) has been erected for a happy life in heaven?
by the brothers of Kharaparttha. the son of Pratasaka (Pratyasaka) of the Manasa gotra.