Inscription number 26.
Indore copper-plate Grant of Bhulunda
– (Gupta) years 38 and 77 (357 A.D. and 396 AD.)
Provenance: Most probably some place in Indore district.
Script: Western variety of Brahmi of the southern class.
Language: Sanskrit.
References: G.S. Gai, Ep.Ind, XXXVIII, pp-243-46.
An ancient dynasty of khandesh
Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar had obtained these copper plates
from a Bribhmana in the Indore State. Maharaja Svamidasa, had made these Inscriptions in the year 67, which registers the gift of a feld in the village Daksina-Valmika-tallsvataka,
which lay in the Nagarika-pathaka. The other Inscription, which was
made by the Maharaja Bhulunda, in the year 107, records the
donation of a feld on the boundary of a village, the name of
which was read by Dr. Majumdar as Rulladana.
Both these grants plainly belonged to
the same dynasty; for they were both issued from the same place Valkha. Maharajas of Valkha were part of a central Indian dynasty that ruled the historical Valkha region (the area around present-day Khargone district).
As these Inscriptions were made during
Gupta era, Maharajas of Valkha, are believed to have ruled during 4th and 5th centuries CE. They were therefore probably vassals of the Gupta emperors.
The core territory of these Valkha rulers was located along the Narmada river around Khargone district, Madhya Pradesh.
Footnote-1
1. From the Roman text in Ep.Ind. XXXVIII, and the accompanying photo plate, only last quarter of which
os illegible.
2. अनुजानीम: is unnecessarily repeated.
English Translation of the inscription.
Hail! From Valkha. Maharaja Bhulunda, meditating on the feet of the Parama Bhattaraka, commands all the Ayuktakas and others serving under him:-
Let it be properly known to you that I sanction for these Brahmanas, the foremost among whom, are Asvadeva
of Kasyapa gotra, Agnisarman of Vatsya gotra, skanda of Bharadvaja
gotra, Tundika of Kautsa gotra, Vasulasarman of Kausika-Dasil
gotra, Durakka of Kausika gotra, Mahasarman of Gargya gotra. We sanction with libation of water the gift of the formerly cultivated, but later abandoned village known as Rohyavahaka, (situated) to the north of Karjurika, (and) to the east of
Isvarasenanaka, in the Dasilakapalli state (Rashtra), On the other bank of the river Narmada, in the agrahara taken out for Aryadhara of Vatsya gotra, to be enjoyed by their progeny as
long as the duration of the moon, the sun and the stars. Thus now while these Brahmanas, who have been given our sanction, are enjoying
and inhabiting this village according to the tradition of brahmanical gifts, they should also be supported by all the guards,despatchers, soldiers, umbrella-holders and,
errand-men, executors, and executives and others They should not act in contravention. This order is from my
own mouth, following a petition submitted by the Brahmana
Parishad on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of Vaisakha in the year 38, (this Charter ) is spelt out (
and inscribed on a copper-plate on an oral order in the year 77, on the 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Magha. (Charter) of Maharaja bhulunda.
(The district around modern desawalia, is about 22 km. to the south of Bagh caves.)
Footnote-2.
It should be noted that the petition of the Brahmana Parishad was submitted in the year 38 (357 A.D.) when some other Maharaja, presumably svamidasa, whose charter of the year 67 ( 387 A.D. was also issued from Valkha, was ruling in his region. Bhulunda,
who came to the throne about the year 77 (397 A.D.) sanctioned the petition. He contimued to rule, over this region,
till at the last the year 107 (427 A,D.)
when he issued another grant from this very place. (see the next inscription)
2. Identified with modern Bagh.
Footnote-3.
Four sets of Copper-plate grants, closely resembling each other, mention names of the rulers, Svamidasa
(year 67), (Indore Plate, Ep.Ind. XV, pp-286 ff and Supra III, 25), Bhulunda (years 38 and 77 in the present grant),
Bhulunda (year 107, Indore Grant, Ep.Ind., XV, pp.286 ff, and infra III,27)
and Rudradasa (year 117, sirpur Plate,
Ind.Ant. XVI, pp-98 ff. C.I.I. IV, Pt.1, No.4). All these rulers call themselves a Paramabhattaraka-
padanuddhyata. It is suspected that these four rulers and the ruler named subandhu, two of whose copper-plates
issued from Mahishmati, one found in Balvani area to the south-west of Indore (Ep.Ind., XIX, pp.261 and Pl. and infra III,34,) and the other from the Bagh caves (year 167) (CI.I.,IV,
Pt.I, pp.17-21, Nos.6 and 7: both the plates respectively),
belong to the same dynasty, although the latter does not call himself as Paramabhattaraka-padanudahyata.
R.C. Majundar (Ep.Ind., XV, pp-286 ff.) and D.C. sircar (I.H.Q. XXII, pp.64-65) rejects V.V. Mirashi’s contention that the date in these plates is in
Kalachuri-chedi era of 248-49 A.D. and that the plates may originally have come from western Khandesh to
which Sirpur belongs. They rightly refer the dates in these plates to the Gupta era of 319-20 A.D.), since the title Paramabhattaraka was popularized by the Guptas; and their feudatories and she subordinate allies enjoyed the title, Maharaja. Thus the years 38 and 77
of the present plate, would be the same as the years 357 A.D. and 396 A.D. respectively. There is no reason to believe that the plates have come from
Khandesh.
Inscription number 27.
Indore Grant of Maharaja Bhulunda –(Gupta) year 107. (426-27 A.D.)
Maharaja Bhulunda, was earliest known ruler, of this dynasty. Some historians concluded that Bhulunda was a tribal chieftain, who was appointed by the emperor Samudragupta as a governor.
These inscriptions record land grants to Brahmins, groups of Brahmins (called Chaturvaidya-Samooha) or temple deities. After Bhulunda, Valkha was ruled by Svamidasa, Rudradasa, Bhattaraka and Nagabhatta. After Nagabhatta, the next known ruler of the region is Maharaja Subandhu of Mahishmati.
Provenance: Some unknown place in Madhya Pradesh, Obtained
from a Brahmana in erstwhdle Indore state.
Script: Western variety of the Southern class of Brahmi. Written in a highly cursive style.
Language: Sanskrit.
References R.C. Mazumdar, Ep.Ind., XV, pp.290-91.
Footnote-1.
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind. XV, facing pp.289.
2. Valkha and Arulladana cannot be identified.
English Translation of the inscription.
From Valkha, Maharaja Bhulunda, meditating on the feet of His supreme Majesty, commands all his existing
Ayuktakas.
Be it known to you, at the request of Ashadhanandin, we permit the row of farms transferred by Kshudranaka (and) lying along the boundary of Arulladana (or Rulladana), along
with the surrounding marshland (or river-bank) to be enjoyed
by the progeny of the Brahmana Kusaraka of Bharadvaja gotra
as a Brahmadeya (i.e. agrahara) to be enjoyed by his descendant for as long as the moon, the sun and the stars last.
Now on having thus been permitted by us to enjoy, all the persons, adherent to us, should approve, while he is enjoying and cultivating (it) according to the appropriate terms and conditions of a Brahmadeya fief.” The chamberlain skanda is the Dutaka.
In the year 107, 12th of the dark half of
Phalguna. (on left margin) of Maharaja Bhulunda.