Taxila Silver Scroll Inscription of a Kushana King Year 136 (AD. 79)
Provenance: small Chapel, West of “chir” stupa, Taxila,
Rawalpindi District Pakistan.
Script: Kharoshthi
Language: Prakrit.
Reference: J. Marshall J.R.A.S, 1914 and 1915; Sten Konow Ep ind XIV, pp-284-95 C.I.I, II,. i. p-77
(No:XXVII) D.C. Sircar, Select Inss, I,. pp- 133-34.
TEXT
1.स १ (x). १००(+ ) 204) 30(+) (+) १(+) अयस अषडस मसस दिवसे १०(+) 4 (+) १ दश दिवस प्रदिस्तवित भगवतो भतु (शो) उर (स )-
2. केम इंतव्र्हिअ -पुत्रण बहलिएण णोअचए णगरे वस्तवेन (1)तेण इमे प्रदिस्तवित
भगवतो धतुओ धमर
3. इए तक्षशि (त ) ए तणुवए वोसि (धि) सत्व | गहमि महरजस रजतिरजस देव पुत्रस बुषणस अरोग -दक्षिणए
4. सर्व – बुधण् पुयए प्रचण ( प्रचेण) बुधण पुयए अरह ( त ) सर्व स त्व न पुषए मत पितु पुयए मित्र मच , ञति
5. लोहि ( व ) ण पुयए अत्वणो
अरोग दक्षिणए णिअणए होतु अ (व ) दे सम – परिचमो
संस्कृत छाया
सं ( वत्सरे षट त्रिशंधिक शततमे ) अयस्य (Azes II) आषाढस्य मासस्य दिवसे 15 अस्मिन दिवसे प्रतिष्ठा पिता: भगवत: धातव: भतु (शो) उर (स )-
देहा वशेश: ) औरशकेन (= औरक्षक-नामना यद्धा उरशा -देशीयेन ) इन्द्रप्रिय पुत्रेण वाहलीकेन (वाहलीक-देश-वास्तव्येन) तेन इसे प्रतिष्ठापिता भगवत:
धातवः धर्मराजिका स्तूपे ) तक्षशिलके (यद्धा – शिलायां ) तनुवके स्वकीये ) बोधिसत्त्व गृहे महाराजस्य राजातिराजस्य देवपुत्रस्य कुषाण आरोग्य- दान प्राणाये ( आरोग्य-दान-प्राणतये), सर्व बुद्धानां पूजाये, प्रत्येक
बुद्धानां सर्व सत्त्वाना पूजायै माता पित्रो: पूजायै
मित्रामात्य झाति सतोहितानां ( रक्त सम्बन्ध युक्तानां) पूजायै
आत्मनः आरोग्य दक्षिणायै निर्माणाय , (च) भवतु अयत्यै सम्यक परित्यागः
1. From the facsimile in C.I.I, II,i, pp. 76, Plate XIV.
2. For the controversy regarding the interpretation of the word अयस (See note on kalwan plate above)
3. उरसकेण and बहलिएण – One appears to be the personal name of the individual, who established the ashes of the Buddha and the other the name of the country from where he hailed. उरसा and वाहलीक both bring names of, countries, it is difficult to decide, which is the personal name. Opinions have been expressed in favour of either.
1. धर्मराण is an epithat of the Buddha. A stupa containing his relics was called धर्मराजिका
2. I.C destined to be a Buddha in futtre Gautam was a bodhisatva in his previous birth and also before enlightenment.
Lighionant
3. Konow C.I.I, II, i, Page 77 take it for पुत्राणा
and translates it as
“Of the imtavhriya boys”
In ancient times, India was ruled by several valiant kings. These kings got disappeared from the history books. They were kind hearted and were known for their generosity and their sense of justice.
They were keen builders of a civilised nation, with the help of scholars, poets, engineers as well as a warriors. One brave King was Urasaka son of King Intravhriya. This inscription relates to Kushana’s era.
Azes II was the last indo Scythian king, who ruled northern India (Pakistan).
Several artefacts such as coins & inscriptions, attribute to the existence of his kingdom.
English Translation of the inscription
In the year 136 of Azes, on the day 15 of the month of Ashadha, on this day
the relics of tha Venerable one were
enshrined by urasaka, son of Intavhriya hailing from the vahiika cuntry and residing the city of Noachaya. By him, the relics of venerable one were enshrined in the
Dharmarazika (stupa) in Takshila in his own Bodhisattva Chapal for the bestowel of health on the great king, the king of kings, the son of gods (of heaven) the Kushana.
In honour of all the buddhas, In honour of the individual Buddhas, it honour of the Arhats, in honour of all beings, In
honour of his parents, In honour of his friends, ministers, kinsmen and blood relations, for the bestowal of health upon himself, to Nirvana, may this proper gift lead hereafter.
1. Konow identifies him with kujula, Kadphises, who according to him was the first to assume these titles and hence it was quiet natural to refer to him by his so far unique titles, without mentioning his personal name. (Ep ind page 239)
2. It is assumed that like vikrama or malava era, the reckoning of Azes, too commenced in 57 BC. See Konow’s views also (Op.cit page 289 and 294)