Inscription number 49.
Mallar Plates of Maha-Jayaraja –(Regnal year 5)
Provenance: Mallar, Bilaspur district, Madhya Pradesh,
Script: Box-headed variety of Central Indian Brahmi.
Language: Sanskrit.
Malhar or Mallala or Mallala-pattana is a town, which is bound by three rivers, the Arpa to the west, the Lilagara to the east, and the Sivanatha to its south. This village is located on an ancient route from Kausambi to Puri
Mallal is may be a derivation of Mallari, which was a title of Shiva. In the Puranas we find a demon named Malla and Shiva killed the demon thus called Mallari.
There were three different dynasties ruling Malhar between the 1st century BCE and the 4th century CE. The first king was Maharaja Silalusiri who ruled during the 1st century BCE. He started using Malhar symbol on his coinage. He was followed by Achadasiri and Dhamabhada. The next dynasty was the Maghas, and we get the names of four kings, Maghasiri, Siriyamagha, Sivamagha, Paramagha, and Yugamagha. The Maghas ruled between the 1st and 2nd centuries CE. The kings from the next dynasty, were Bhaliga and Sivasiri Silaluka.
References: D.C. Sircar, EP.Ind. , XXXIII, pp.155-58.
Second plate first side.
Footnote-1.
1. From the facsimile in Ep.Ind,, XXXII, between pp.156-57.
2. The visarga is indicated by two parallel horizontal strokes, instead of by two dots.
3. The punctuation mark looks like a visarga sign.
4. The punctuation mark is superfluous. Somoparaga= luner eclipse.
Second plate second side.
Footnote-2.
1. The division sign of modern mathematics is used as punctuation mark here and in the following lines.
2. After this the words
were repeated
and were erased afterwards.
This verse is misplaced.
It should follow
3. Mark of punctuation here is the same as the equation sign in mathematics.
English Translation of the inscription.
Hail ! From sarabhapura. The devout worshipper of Bhagawat,
the illustrious Maha Jayaraja, whose two feet are washed by waters that are the emissions of light from the crest
Jewels of the feudatory chiefs subdued by his valour, who is the cause of removing the auspicious partition of hair, on the heads of the ladies of his enemies, who is/giver of wealth, land and cows, who is in the thoughts of his respected parents, commands the householders, residing in the village
of Kadambapadrullaka, attached to the Antarnalaka district.
Be it known to you that we have granted with libation of water, through this charter, this village as an insurance
of happiness and stability in heavens to be enjoyed as long as this world lasts, with it’s darkness dispelled by the
rays of the sun, the moon and the stars together with major and minor deposits; Out of bounds for the District Begar officers, soldiers and exempt from all taxes to the Brahmana Kapardisvamin of Kautsa gotra on the occasion of the luner eclipse, for the increase of religious merit of
my parents and myself. So you people, having learnt thus, live on happily attending to and obeying his orders and
presenting to him due taxes and share in produce. And he points out to the future kings:
The ancient sages who had settled views on the laws of Dharma, declare the merit arising from protecting a
gift to be superior to the gift itself. Therefore, your inclination should be towards protecting the land granted to
a Brahmana of pure lineage and learning. You should also protect this gift and in this context, they cite the verses sung by Vyasa:-
Here follow three of the customary verses.
Executed by (the king’s oral order. Engraved by Achalasimha.
The fifth, 5th, flourishing and victorious
year of the reign. The fifth, 5th, day of Karttika.
