The Belorā copper plate charters, recovered from Wardha district, Maharashtra, consist of two incomplete sets, designated Set A and Set B, issued by the Vākāṭaka ruler Pravarasena II. Engraved in the box-headed Brāhmī script, both texts are composed in Sanskrit. Set A was issued from Nagardhan where as the place of issue for Set B remains unknown. Both grants are palimpsests, bearing the distinct traces of an earlier engraving.
The texts document land endowments by Pravarasena II to Suryasvamin of the Kāśyapa gotra and Taittirīya śākhā, residing in Pravareśvara-ṣaḍvimśati-vāṭaka. Set A registers the donation of the village Mahalla-Lāṭa, located within the Asi bhukti of the Śailapura subdivision (mārga). Set B reiterates this endowment under the name Mahallama-Lāṭa while simultaneously granting a second village, Dīrghadraha, situated in the Pākkaṇa rāṣṭra. Both gifts were issued to augment the king's spiritual merit and royal fortune. Set B dates the charter to the thirteenth lunar day of Kārttika in the eleventh regnal year, executed under senāpati Citravarman.
Set A
First Plate
1. dṛṣṭam | siddham svasti | nandivarddhanādagniṣṭomāptoryyāmokthya- ṣoḍaśyatirātravājapeyabṛhaspatisava-
2. sādyaskracaturaśvamedhayājinaḥ viṣṇuvṛddhasagotrasya samrājo vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpravara-
3. senasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ atyantasvāmimahābhairavabhaktasya amsabhārasanniveśitaśivaliṅgo-
4. dvahanaśivasuparituṣṭasamutpāditarājavamśānāmparāk- kramādhigatabhāgīratthyamalajala-
5. mūrddhābhiṣiktānāndaśāśvamedhāvabhṛthasnātāmām- bhāraśivānāmmahārājaśrībhavanāgadauhitrasya
6. gautamīputrasya putrasya | vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnoratyantamāheśvarasya
Second Plate : First side
7. satyārjjavakāruṇyaśauryyavikkramanayavinayamāhātmyaśrīmattva dhīmattvapātragatabhaktitva-
8. dharmmavijayitvamanonairmmalyādiguṇaiḥ samupetasya varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośada-
9. ṇḍasādhanasantānaputrapautṛtriṇaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravṛtteḥ vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpṛthivīṣe-
10. ṇasya sūnorbhagavataścakkrapāṇe prasādopārjjita śrīsamudayasya | mahārājaśrīrudrasena-
11. sya sūnormmahārājaśrīdevaguptasutāyāmprabhāvatiguptāyāmutpannasya śambhopra
12. sādadhṛtakārttayugasya vākāṭakānāmparamāheśvaramahārājaśrīpravarasenasya-
Second Plate : Second side
13. vacanāt | śailapuramārge asibhuktimahallamalāṭagrāmśca eva grāmadvayam pravareśvaraṣadviśativāṭa-
14. kavastavyā taittirīya | kāśyapasagotrasūryyasvāmine dattam | yatosmatsantakāḥ sarvvāddhya-
15. kṣaniyoga niyuktāḥ ājñāsañcāri kulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭāśchātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayā
16. jñapayitavyāḥ | viditamastu vaḥ yathehāsmābhirātmano dharmmāyurbbala vijayaiśvaryya
17. vivṛddhaye | ihāmutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya || vaijayike dharmasthāne apūrvvadattyā
18. udakapūrvvamatisṛṣṭaḥ ||
Set B
Second Plate : First side
7. satyārjjavakāruṇyaśauryyavikramanayavinayamāhātmya dhīmattva pātragatabhaktitvadharmma-
8. vijayitvamanonairmalyādiguṇaḥ samupetasya varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośadaṇḍasā-
9. dhanasantānaputrapautriṇaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravṛttervvākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpṛthivīṣenasya
10. sūnorbha gavataḥścakrapāṇe prasādopārjjitaśrīsamudasya mahārājaśrīrudra-
11. senasya sūnormmahārājādhirājaśrīdevaguptasutāyām prabhāvatiguptāyāmutpannasya-
12. śambho prasādadhṛtakārttayugasya | vākāṭakānāmparamāheśvaramahārājaśrīpravarase-
Second Plate : Second side
13. nasya vacanāt | pākkaṇarāṣṭre dīrgghadrahaṃnāma grāmaḥ | śailapuramārgge asibhukti-
14. mahallamalāṭagrāmaśca evam grāmadvayam | pravareśvaraṣaḍvimṣativāṭakavāstavya-
15. taittiriya kāśyapasagotrasūryyasvāmina dattam | yatosmatsantakāḥ sarvvāddhyakṣa niyoga-
16. niyuktāḥ ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtāḥ bhaṭāśchātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayājñayājñā-
17. payitavyā viditamastu vaḥ | yathehāsmābhirātmano dharmmāyurbbalavijayaiśvaryyavivṛddhaye | iha
18. mutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya vaijayike dharmmasthāne apūrvvadattyā udakapūrvvamatisṛṣṭam |
Third Plate : First side
19. ucitāṃ cāsya pūrvvarājānumatām cāturvaidyagrāmamaryyādām vitarāmastadyathā akaradāyi
20. abhaṭacchātraprāveśyam apāramparagobalīvarddam apuṣpakṣīra sandoham acārāsanaca-
21. rmmāṅgāram alavaṇakiṇvakreṇikhanakam sarvaviṣṭiparihāraparihṛtam sanidhi sopa-
22. nidhi saklṛptopaklṛptam acandrāditya kālīyam putrapautrānugāmikam bhuñjato
23. na kenacidvyāghāta karttavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhissamrakṣitavya parivaddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsmacchā-
24. sanamagaṇayamānaḥ svalpāmapi paribādhāṃ kuryyātkārayedvā asya brāhmaṇairvveditasya
Third Plate : Second side
25. sadaṇḍanigrahaṃ kuryyām || asmimśca dharmmādarakaraṇe atītānekarājadattasamñcintana paripā-
26. lanaṃ kṛtapuṇyānukīrttanaparihārārttham na kīrttayāmaḥ | vyāsagītau cātra ślokau pramāṇī-
27. karttavyau | svadattāmparadattāṃ vā haredyo vai vasundharām | gavām śatasahasrasya | hanturha-
28. rati duṣkṛtam || ṣaṣṭhim varṣasahasrāṇi svargge modati bhūmidaḥ | ācchettā cā-
29. numantā ca tānyeva narake vaset || samvatsare ekādaśe 10 1 kārttikaśuklapakṣa-
30. trayodaśyāṃ 10 3 senāpatau citravarmmaṇi nā likhitam |
वर्गः अ
प्रथमं पत्रम्
१। दृष्टम् । सिद्धम् स्वस्ति । नन्दिवर्द्धनादग्निष्टोमाप्तोर्य्यामोक्थ्य- षोडश्यतिरात्रवाजपेयबृहस्पतिसव-
२। साद्यस्क्रचतुरश्वमेधयाजिनः विष्णुवृद्धसगोत्रस्य सम्राजो वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीप्रवर-
३। सेनस्य सूनोः सूनोः अत्यन्तस्वामिमहाभैरवभक्तस्य अम्सभारसन्निवेशितशिवलिङ्गो-
४। द्वहनशिवसुपरितुष्टसमुत्पादितराजवम्शानाम्पराक्- क्रमाधिगतभागीरत्थ्यमलजल-
५। मूर्द्धाभिषिक्तानान्दशाश्वमेधावभृथस्नातामाम्- भारशिवानाम्महाराजश्रीभवनागदौहित्रस्य
६। गौतमीपुत्रस्य पुत्रस्य । वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोरत्यन्तमाहेश्वरस्य
द्वितीयं पत्रम् : प्रथमं पृष्ठम्
७। सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौर्य्यविक्क्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्यश्रीमत्त्व धीमत्त्वपात्रगतभक्तित्व-
८। धर्म्मविजयित्वमनोनैर्म्मल्यादिगुणैः समुपेतस्य वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोशद-
९। ण्डसाधनसन्तानपुत्रपौतृत्रिणः युधिष्ठिरवृत्तेः वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीपृथिवीषे-
१०। णस्य सूनोर्भगवतश्चक्क्रपाणे प्रसादोपार्ज्जित श्रीसमुदयस्य । महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेन-
११। स्य सूनोर्म्महाराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम्प्रभावतिगुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्य शम्भोप्र
१२। सादधृतकार्त्तयुगस्य वाकाटकानाम्परमाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य-
द्वितीयं पत्रम् : द्वितीयं पृष्ठम्
१३। वचनात् । शैलपुरमार्गे असिभुक्तिमहल्लमलाटग्राम्श्च एव ग्रामद्वयम् प्रवरेश्वरषद्विशतिवाट-
१४। कवस्तव्या तैत्तिरीय । काश्यपसगोत्रसूर्य्यस्वामिने दत्तम् । यतोस्मत्सन्तकाः सर्व्वाद्ध्य-
१५। क्षनियोग नियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारि कुलपुत्राधिकृता भटाश्छात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वया
१६। ज्ञपयितव्याः । विदितमस्तु वः यथेहास्माभिरात्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बल विजयैश्वर्य्य
१७। विवृद्धये । इहामुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय ॥ वैजयिके धर्मस्थाने अपूर्व्वदत्त्या
१८। उदकपूर्व्वमतिसृष्टः ॥
वर्गः ब
द्वितीयं पत्रम् : प्रथमं पृष्ठम्
७। सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौर्य्यविक्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्य धीमत्त्व पात्रगतभक्तित्वधर्म्म-
८। विजयित्वमनोनैर्मल्यादिगुणः समुपेतस्य वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोशदण्डसा-
९। धनसन्तानपुत्रपौत्रिणः युधिष्ठिरवृत्तेर्व्वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीपृथिवीषेनस्य
१०। सूनोर्भ गवतःश्चक्रपाणे प्रसादोपार्ज्जितश्रीसमुदस्य महाराजश्रीरुद्र-
११। सेनस्य सूनोर्म्महाराजाधिराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम् प्रभावतिगुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्य-
१२। शम्भो प्रसादधृतकार्त्तयुगस्य । वाकाटकानाम्परमाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीप्रवरसे-
द्वितीयं पत्रम् : द्वितीयं पृष्ठम्
१३। नस्य वचनात् । पाक्कणराष्ट्रे दीर्ग्घद्रहंनाम ग्रामः । शैलपुरमार्ग्गे असिभुक्ति-
१४। महल्लमलाटग्रामश्च एवम् ग्रामद्वयम् । प्रवरेश्वरषड्विम्षतिवाटकवास्तव्य-
१५। तैत्तिरिय काश्यपसगोत्रसूर्य्यस्वामिन दत्तम् । यतोस्मत्सन्तकाः सर्व्वाद्ध्यक्ष नियोग-
१६। नियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृताः भटाश्छात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वयाज्ञयाज्ञा-
१७। पयितव्या विदितमस्तु वः । यथेहास्माभिरात्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बलविजयैश्वर्य्यविवृद्धये । इह
१८। मुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय वैजयिके धर्म्मस्थाने अपूर्व्वदत्त्या उदकपूर्व्वमतिसृष्टम् ।
तृतीयं पत्रम् : प्रथमं पृष्ठम्
१९। उचितां चास्य पूर्व्वराजानुमताम् चातुर्वैद्यग्राममर्य्यादाम् वितरामस्तद्यथा अकरदायि
२०। अभटच्छात्रप्रावेश्यम् अपारम्परगोबलीवर्द्दम् अपुष्पक्षीर सन्दोहम् अचारासनच-
२१। र्म्माङ्गारम् अलवणकिण्वक्रेणिखनकम् सर्वविष्टिपरिहारपरिहृतम् सनिधि सोप-
२२। निधि सक्लृप्तोपक्लृप्तम् अचन्द्रादित्य कालीयम् पुत्रपौत्रानुगामिकम् भुञ्जतो
२३। न केनचिद्व्याघात कर्त्तव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभिस्सम्रक्षितव्य परिवद्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्मच्छा-
२४। सनमगणयमानः स्वल्पामपि परिबाधां कुर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा अस्य ब्राह्मणैर्व्वेदितस्य
तृतीयं पत्रम् : द्वितीयं पृष्ठम्
२५। सदण्डनिग्रहं कुर्य्याम् ॥ अस्मिम्श्च धर्म्मादरकरणे अतीतानेकराजदत्तसम्ञ्चिन्तन परिपा-
२६। लनं कृतपुण्यानुकीर्त्तनपरिहारार्त्थम् न कीर्त्तयामः । व्यासगीतौ चात्र श्लोकौ प्रमाणी-
२७। कर्त्तव्यौ । स्वदत्ताम्परदत्तां वा हरेद्यो वै वसुन्धराम् । गवाम् शतसहस्रस्य । हन्तुर्ह-
२८। रति दुष्कृतम् ॥ षष्ठिम् वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्ग्गे मोदति भूमिदः । आच्छेत्ता चा-
२९। नुमन्ता च तान्येव नरके वसेत् ॥ सम्वत्सरे एकादशे १० १ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्ष-
३०। त्रयोदश्यां १० ३ सेनापतौ चित्रवर्म्मणि ना लिखितम् ।
SET A
Prose section
dṛṣṭam | siddham svasti | nandivarddhanādagniṣṭomāptoryyāmokthya- ṣoḍaśyatirātravājapeyabṛhaspatisavasādyaskracaturaśvamedhayājinaḥ viṣṇuvṛddhasagotrasya samrājo vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpravarasenasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ atyantasvāmimahābhairavabhaktasya aṃsabhārasanniveśitaśivaliṅgo-
dvahanaśivasuparituṣṭasamutpāditarājavaṃśānāmparākkramādhigata- bhāgīratthyamalajalamūrddhābhiṣiktānāndaśāśvamedhāvabhṛthasnātāmām- bhāraśivānāmmahārājaśrībhavanāgadauhitrasya gautamīputrasya putrasya |
vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnoratyantamāheśvarasya satyārjjavakāruṇyaśauryyavikkramanayavinayamāhātmyaśrīmattva dhīmattvapātragatabhaktitvadharmmavijayitvamanonairmmalyādiguṇaiḥ samupetasya varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośadaṇḍasādhanasantānaputrapautṛtriṇaḥ yudhiṣ.viṣṭhiravṛtteḥ vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpṛthivīseṇasya sūnorbhagavataścakkrapāṇe prasādopārjjita śrīsamudayasya |
mahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnormmahārājaśrīdevaguptasutāyāmprabhāvatiguptāyāmutpannasya śambhoprasādadhṛtakārttayugasya vākāṭakānāmparamamāheśvaramahārājaśrīpravarasenasya vacanāt | śailapuramārge asibhuktimahallamalāṭagrāmaḥ pravareśvaraṣadviśakavāṭakavastavyāya || taittirīyāya | kāśyapasagotraśūryyasvāmine dattaḥ | yatosmatsantakāḥ sarvvāddhyakṣaniyoganiyuktāḥ ājñāsañcāri kulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭāśchātrāśca viśrutapūvvayājñayājñāpayitavyāḥ | viditamastu vaḥ yathehāsmābhirātmano dharmmāyurbbala vijayaiśvaryyavivṛddhaye | ihāmutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya || vaijayike dharmasthāne apūrvvadattyā udakapūrvvamatisṛṣṭaḥ ||
SET B
Prose Section
satyārjjavakāruṇyaśauryyavikramanayavinayamāhātmya dhīmattva pātragatabhaktitvadharmmavijayitvamanonairmalyādiguṇaḥ samupetasya varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośadaṇḍasādhanasantānaputrapautriṇaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravṛttervvākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpṛthivīsenasya sūnorbha gavataḥścakrapāṇe prasādopārjjitaśrīsamudayasmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnormmahārājādhirājaśrīdevaguptasutāyāṃ prabhāvatiguptāyāmutpannasyaśambho prasādadhṛtakārttayugasya |
vākāṭakānāmparamāheśvaramahārājaśrīpravarasenasya vacanāt | pākkaṇarāṣṭre dīrgghadrahaṃnāma grāmaḥ | śailapuramārgge asibhuktimahallamalāṭagrāmaśca evaṃ grāmadvayaṃ | pravareśvaraṣaḍviṃṣativāṭakavāstavyataittiriya kāśyapasagotrasūryyasvāmina dattam | yatosmatsantakāḥ sarvvāddhyakṣa niyoganiyuktāḥ ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtāḥ bhaṭāśchātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayājñayājñāpayitavyā viditamastu vaḥ | yathehāsmābhirātmano dharmmāyurbbalavijayaiśvaryyavivṛddhaye | iha mutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya vaijayike dharmmasthāne apūrvvadattyā udakapūrvvamatisṛṣṭam |
ucitāṃ cāsya pūrvvarājānumatāṃ cāturvaidyagrāmamaryyādāṃ vitarāmastadyathā akaradāyi abhaṭacchātraprāveśyam apāramparagobalīvarddam apuṣpakṣīra sandoham acārāsanacarmmāṅgāram alavaṇakiṇvakreṇikhanakam sarvaviṣṭiparihāraparihṛtam sanidhi sopanidhi saklṛptopaklṛptam acandrāditya kālīyam putrapautrānugāmikam bhuñjato na kenacidvyāghāta karttavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhissaṃrakṣitavya parivaddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsmacchāsanamagaṇayamānaḥ svalpāmapi paribādhāṃ kuryyātkārayedvā asya brāhmaṇairvveditasya sadaṇḍanigrahaṃ kuryyām || asmiṃśca dharmmādarakaraṇe atītānekarājadattasaṃñcintana paripālanaṃ kṛtapuṇyānukīrttanaparihārārtthaṃ na kīrttayāmaḥ | vyāsagītau cātra ślokau pramāṇīkarttavyau | svadattāmparattāṃ vā haredyo vai vasundharām | gavāṃ śatasahasrasya | hanturharati duṣkṛtam ||
Verse 1
ṣaṣṭhiṃ varṣasahasrāṇi
svargge modati bhūmidaḥ |
ācchettā cānumantā ca
tānyeva narake vaset || (anuṣṭup)
saṃvatsare ekādaśe 10 1 kārttikaśuklapakṣatrayodaśyāṃ 10 3 senāpatau citravarmmaṇi nā likhitam |
वर्गः अ
गद्य भाग
दृष्टम् । सिद्धम् स्वस्ति । नन्दिवर्द्धनादग्निष्टोमाप्तोर्य्यामोक्थ्य- षोडश्यतिरात्रवाजपेयबृहस्पतिसवसाद्यस्क्रचतुरश्वमेधयाजिनः विष्णुवृद्धसगोत्रस्य सम्राजो वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य सूनोः सूनोः अत्यन्तस्वामिमहाभैरवभक्तस्य अंसभारसन्निवेशितशिवलिङ्गो-
द्वहनशिवसुपरितुष्टसमुत्पादितराजवंशानाम्पराक्क्रमाधिगत- भागीरत्थ्यमलजलमूर्द्धाभिषिक्तानान्दशाश्वमेधावभृथस्नातामाम्- भारशिवानाम्महाराजश्रीभवनागदौहित्रस्य गौतमीपुत्रस्य पुत्रस्य ।
वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोरत्यन्तमाहेश्वरस्य सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौर्य्यविक्क्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्यश्रीमत्त्व धीमत्त्वपात्रगतभक्तित्वधर्म्मविजयित्वमनोनैर्म्मल्यादिगुणैः समुपेतस्य वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोशदण्डसाधनसन्तानपुत्रपौतृत्रिणः युधिष्।विष्ठिरवृत्तेः वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीपृथिवीसेणस्य सूनोर्भगवतश्चक्क्रपाणे प्रसादोपार्ज्जित श्रीसमुदयस्य ।
महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोर्म्महाराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम्प्रभावतिगुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्य शम्भोप्रसादधृतकार्त्तयुगस्य वाकाटकानाम्परममाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य वचनात् । शैलपुरमार्गे असिभुक्तिमहल्लमलाटग्रामः प्रवरेश्वरषद्विशकवाटकवस्तव्याय ॥ तैत्तिरीयाय । काश्यपसगोत्रशूर्य्यस्वामिने दत्तः । यतोस्मत्सन्तकाः सर्व्वाद्ध्यक्षनियोगनियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारि कुलपुत्राधिकृता भटाश्छात्राश्च विश्रुतपूव्वयाज्ञयाज्ञापयितव्याः । विदितमस्तु वः यथेहास्माभिरात्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बल विजयैश्वर्य्यविवृद्धये । इहामुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय ॥ वैजयिके धर्मस्थाने अपूर्व्वदत्त्या उदकपूर्व्वमतिसृष्टः ॥
वर्गः ब
गद्य भाग
सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौर्य्यविक्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्य धीमत्त्व पात्रगतभक्तित्वधर्म्मविजयित्वमनोनैर्मल्यादिगुणः समुपेतस्य वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोशदण्डसाधनसन्तानपुत्रपौत्रिणः युधिष्ठिरवृत्तेर्व्वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीपृथिवीसेनस्य सूनोर्भ गवतःश्चक्रपाणे प्रसादोपार्ज्जितश्रीसमुदयस्म्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोर्म्महाराजाधिराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायां प्रभावतिगुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्यशम्भो प्रसादधृतकार्त्तयुगस्य ।
वाकाटकानाम्परमाहेश्वरमहाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य वचनात् । पाक्कणराष्ट्रे दीर्ग्घद्रहंनाम ग्रामः । शैलपुरमार्ग्गे असिभुक्तिमहल्लमलाटग्रामश्च एवं ग्रामद्वयं । प्रवरेश्वरषड्विंषतिवाटकवास्तव्यतैत्तिरिय काश्यपसगोत्रसूर्य्यस्वामिन दत्तम् । यतोस्मत्सन्तकाः सर्व्वाद्ध्यक्ष नियोगनियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृताः भटाश्छात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वयाज्ञयाज्ञापयितव्या विदितमस्तु वः । यथेहास्माभिरात्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बलविजयैश्वर्य्यविवृद्धये । इह मुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय वैजयिके धर्म्मस्थाने अपूर्व्वदत्त्या उदकपूर्व्वमतिसृष्टम् ।
उचितां चास्य पूर्व्वराजानुमतां चातुर्वैद्यग्राममर्य्यादां वितरामस्तद्यथा अकरदायि अभटच्छात्रप्रावेश्यम् अपारम्परगोबलीवर्द्दम् अपुष्पक्षीर सन्दोहम् अचारासनचर्म्माङ्गारम् अलवणकिण्वक्रेणिखनकम् सर्वविष्टिपरिहारपरिहृतम् सनिधि सोपनिधि सक्लृप्तोपक्लृप्तम् अचन्द्रादित्य कालीयम् पुत्रपौत्रानुगामिकम् भुञ्जतो न केनचिद्व्याघात कर्त्तव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभिस्संरक्षितव्य परिवद्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्मच्छासनमगणयमानः स्वल्पामपि परिबाधां कुर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा अस्य ब्राह्मणैर्व्वेदितस्य सदण्डनिग्रहं कुर्य्याम् ॥ अस्मिंश्च धर्म्मादरकरणे अतीतानेकराजदत्तसंञ्चिन्तन परिपालनं कृतपुण्यानुकीर्त्तनपरिहारार्त्थं न कीर्त्तयामः । व्यासगीतौ चात्र श्लोकौ प्रमाणीकर्त्तव्यौ । स्वदत्ताम्परत्तां वा हरेद्यो वै वसुन्धराम् । गवां शतसहस्रस्य । हन्तुर्हरति दुष्कृतम् ॥
श्लोक १
षष्ठिं वर्षसहस्राणि
स्वर्ग्गे मोदति भूमिदः ।
आच्छेत्ता चानुमन्ता च
तान्येव नरके वसेत् ॥ (अनुष्टुप्)
संवत्सरे एकादशे १० १ कार्त्तिकशुक्लपक्षत्रयोदश्यां १० ३ सेनापतौ चित्रवर्म्मणि ना लिखितम् ।
SET A
Lines 1-12
Seen. Success! Hail! From Nandivardhana:
By the order of the illustrious Pravarasena II, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who is a fervent devotee of Maheśvara; who, by the grace of Śambhu, has established the Kṛta-yuga (Golden Age) on the earth; who was born of Prabhāvatīguptā, the daughter of the mahārājādhirāja, the illustrious Devagupta; and who is the son of the mahārāja, the illustrious Rudrasena II, who acquired an abundance of prosperity by the grace of the divine lord Cakrapāṇi (Viṣṇu), and who was the son of the illustrious Pṛthivīseṇa I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who was intensely devoted to the god Maheśvara, who was endowed with truthfulness, straightforwardness, compassion, heroism, valour, political wisdom, modesty, high-mindedness, intelligence, devotion to worthy persons, and with the state of being a righteous conqueror, purity of mind, and such other qualities, who had sons and grandsons and a continuous supply of treasure and army which had been accumulating for a hundred years, who conducted himself like Yudhiṣṭhira, and who was the son of the illustrious Rudrasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas and the son of Gautamīputra, who was intensely devoted to the god Svāmi-Mahābhairava, who was the daughter’s son of the illustrious Bhavanāga, the mahārāja of the Bhāraśivas, whose royal family was created by Śiva, who was greatly pleased by their carrying the liṅga of Śiva like a load placed on their shoulders, and who were besprinkled on their heads with the pure water of the river Bhāgīrathī that had been obtained by their valour, who was the son of the illustrious Pravarasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, the Samrāṭa (Universal Monarch), who performed the Agniṣṭoma, Āptoryāma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Atirātra, Vājapeya, Bṛhaspatisava, Sādyaskra, and four Aśvamedhas, and who was of the Viṣṇuvṛddha gotra.
Line 13
The village Mahalla-lāṭa in the Asi bhukti in the mārga of Śailapura has been donated by us to Sūryasvāmin of the Kaśyapa gotra and Taittirīya śākhā, who resides in the village Pravareśvara-shaḍviṃśati-vāṭaka.
Wherefore, our officials of noble birth, who are employed by the order of the sarvādhyakṣa (general superintendent) and who exercise their authority by our command, and our soldiers and policemen, should be directed by the following command which is already well-known to them:
“Be it known to you that in order to increase our religious merit, life, power, victory, and prosperity, to secure our well-being in this world and the next, and to obtain blessings for ourself, we have given this village as a gift not previously made, with the pouring out of water, in our victorious place of religious worship." (The rest of the grant is not forthcoming.)
SET B
Lines 12-23
By the order of the illustrious Pravarasena II, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who is a fervent devotee of Maheśvara; who, by the grace of Śambhu, has established the Kṛta yuga (Golden Age) on the earth; who was born of Prabhāvatīguptā, the daughter of the mahārājādhirāja, the illustrious Devagupta; and who is the son of the mahārāja, the illustrious Rudrasena II, who acquired an abundance of prosperity by the grace of the divine lord Cakrapāṇi (Viṣṇu), and who was the son of the illustrious Pṛthivīseṇa I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who was intensely devoted to the god Maheśvara, who was endowed with truthfulness, straightforwardness, compassion, heroism, valour, political wisdom, modesty, high-mindedness, intelligence, devotion to worthy persons, and with the state of being a righteous conqueror, purity of mind, and such other qualities, who had sons and grandsons and a continuous supply of treasure and army which had been accumulating for a hundred years, who conducted himself like Yudhiṣṭhira, and who was the son of the illustrious Rudrasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas and the son of Gautamīputra, who was intensely devoted to the god Svāmi-Mahābhairava, who was the daughter’s son of the illustrious Bhavanāga, the mahārāja of the Bhāraśivas, whose royal family was created by Śiva, who was greatly pleased by their carrying the liṅga of Śiva like a load placed on their shoulders, and who were besprinkled on their heads with the pure water of the river Bhāgīrathī that had been obtained by their valour, who was the son of the illustrious Pravarasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, the Samrāṭa (universal monarch), who performed the Agniṣṭoma, Āptoryāma, Ukthya, Ṣoḍaśin, Atirātra, Vājapeya, Bṛhaspatisava, Sādyaskra, and four Aśvamedhas, and who was of the Viṣṇuvṛddha gotra.
The two villages, the village named Dīrghadraha in the Pākkaṇa rāṣṭra and the village Mahallama-lāṭa in the Asi bhukti in the mārga of Śailapura have been donated by us to Sūryasvāmin of the Kaśyapa gotra and the Taittirīya śākhā, who resides in the Pravareśvara-shaḍviṃśati-vāṭaka.
Wherefore, our officials of noble birth, who are employed by the order of the sarvādhyakṣa (general superintendent) and who exercise their authority by our command, and our soldiers and policemen, should be directed by the following command which is already well-known to them:
“Be it known to you that in order to increase our religious merit, life, power, victory, and prosperity, to secure our well-being in this world and the next, and to obtain blessings for ourself, we have given here in our victorious place of religious worship, with the pouring out of water, this village as a gift not previously made.
And we grant the following exemptions which are incidental to a village bestowed on a Brāhmaṇa proficient in the four Vedas and are appropriate, as approved by former kings: It is not to pay taxes; it is not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; it does not entitle the State to its customary right on cows and bulls; it also does not entitle it to royalties on flowers and milking; it is exempt from the obligation to provide grass, hides as seats, and charcoal to touring royal officers; it is exempt from royalties on the purchase of fermenting liquors and the digging of salt; it is free from all kinds of forced labour; it is donated together with the right to hidden treasures and deposits and together with major and minor taxes; it is to be enjoyed as long as the sun and the moon will endure, and it is to follow the succession of sons and son’s sons. None should cause an obstruction while the donee or his successor is enjoying it. This grant should be preserved and increased by all means. And whoever, disregarding our order, will himself cause or make others cause even the slightest obstruction, upon him, when complained against by the Brāhmaṇas, we will inflict punishment together with a fine.”
Line 26
And the following two verses sung by Vyāsa should be regarded as an authority on this point.
(Here follow two benedictive and imprecatory verses.)
Line 29
This charter was written by Maṇi, Citravarman being the senāpati, on the thirteenth (10 and 3) lunar day in the bright fortnight of Kārttika in the eleventh (10 and 1) regnal year.
| Dynasty: | Vākāṭaka |
| Source: | |
| Ruler: | Pravarasena II |
| Date: | c. 420 to 455 CE (Kārttika, śukla 13, Regnal year 11) |
| Donee: | Brāhmaṇa Sūryasvāmin of Kāśyapa gōtra and Taittirīya śākhā |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Deities: | Mahēśvara i.e. Śiva |
| Nature of grant: | Land donation |
| Purpose: | To record the grant of two villages to a learned Brāhmaṇa |
| Provenance of inscription: | Belora, Wardha, Maharashtra |
| Type of Inscription: | Copperplate grant |
