The Ramtek copper-plate charter, currently lost, is represented by a single extant plate, the fourth plate of a standard Vākāṭaka set. It was originally discovered by contractors digging for manganese at Mansar, Nagpur district, Maharashtra. The text, preserved through photographs taken before the disappearance of the plate, is engraved in the box-headed Brāhmī script, and composed in Sanskrit.
The opening lines indicate the grant was made for the increase of the donor's own religious merit, life, strength, and prosperity. Because of the loss of the initial plates, critical details regarding the donor, donee, and the specific village granted are unknown. However, the paleography closely aligns with other charters issued by Pravarasena II, suggesting he was the donor. The surviving text outlines the standard immunities and privileges associated with an agrahāra grant, concluding with a royal injunction against obstructing the donees' enjoyment of the gift and a warning of punishment for any hindrance.
Fourth Plate : First Side
1. sarvvāddhyakṣaniyoganiyuktā ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭāśchātrāśca
2. viśrutapūrvvayājñayā | vaktavyā yathāsmābhirātmadharmmāyurbbala-
3. iśvaryya vivṛddhaye imāmutra cātmānugrahāya abhaṭa-
4. śchātraprāveśyaḥ apāramparagobalivarddaḥ apuṣpakṣīrasando-
5. haḥ acārāsana carmmāṅgāraḥ alavaṇakiṇva-
Fourth Plate : Second Side
6. kreṇikhanakaḥ sarvvaviṣṭiparihāraparihṛtaḥ saklṛpto
7. paklṛptaḥ ācandrā dityakālīyaḥ pautrānugāmi | bhu-
8. ñjataḥ na kenacidvyāghāta karttavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhīrakṣi-
9. tavyaḥ parivarddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsmacchāsanamagaṇayamānaḥ
10. svalpāmapi paribādhāṃ kūryyātkārayedvā tasya brāhmaṇai-
फ़ोउर्थ् प्लते : फ़िर्स्त् सिदे
१। सर्व्वाद्ध्यक्षनियोगनियुक्ता आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृता भटाश्छात्राश्च
२। विश्रुतपूर्व्वयाज्ञया । वक्तव्या यथास्माभिरात्मधर्म्मायुर्ब्बल-
३। इश्वर्य्य विवृद्धये इमामुत्र चात्मानुग्रहाय अभट-
४। श्छात्रप्रावेश्यः अपारम्परगोबलिवर्द्दः अपुष्पक्षीरसन्दो-
५। हः अचारासन चर्म्माङ्गारः अलवणकिण्व-
फ़ोउर्थ् प्लते : सेचोन्द् सिदे
६। क्रेणिखनकः सर्व्वविष्टिपरिहारपरिहृतः सक्लृप्तो
७। पक्लृप्तः आचन्द्रा दित्यकालीयः पौत्रानुगामि । भु-
८। ञ्जतः न केनचिद्व्याघात कर्त्तव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभीरक्षि-
९। तव्यः परिवर्द्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्मच्छासनमगणयमानः
१०। स्वल्पामपि परिबाधां कूर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा तस्य ब्राह्मणै-
Prose Inscription (Incomplete)
sarvvāddhyakṣaniyoganiyuktā ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭāśchātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayājñayā | vaktavyā yathāsmābhirātmadharmmāyurbbalaiśvaryya vivṛddhaye imāmutra cātmānugrahāya abhaṭaśchātraprāveśyaḥ apāramparagobalivarddaḥ apuṣpakṣīrasandohaḥ acārāsana carmmāṅgāraḥ alavaṇakiṇvakreṇikhanakaḥ sarvvaviṣṭiparihāraparihṛtaḥ saklṛpto paklṛptaḥ ācandrā dityakālīyaḥ pautrānugāmi | bhuñjataḥ na kenacidvyāghāta karttavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhīrakṣitavyaḥ parivarddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsmacchāsanamagaṇayamānaḥ svalpāmapi paribādhāṃ kūryyātkārayedvā tasya brāhmaṇai-
गद्य भाग: (अपूर्ण:)
सर्व्वाद्ध्यक्षनियोगनियुक्ता आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृता भटाश्छात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वयाज्ञया । वक्तव्या यथास्माभिरात्मधर्म्मायुर्ब्बलैश्वर्य्य विवृद्धये इमामुत्र चात्मानुग्रहाय अभटश्छात्रप्रावेश्यः अपारम्परगोबलिवर्द्दः अपुष्पक्षीरसन्दोहः अचारासन चर्म्माङ्गारः अलवणकिण्वक्रेणिखनकः सर्व्वविष्टिपरिहारपरिहृतः सक्लृप्तो पक्लृप्तः आचन्द्रा दित्यकालीयः पौत्रानुगामि । भुञ्जतः न केनचिद्व्याघात कर्त्तव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभीरक्षितव्यः परिवर्द्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्मच्छासनमगणयमानः स्वल्पामपि परिबाधां कूर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा तस्य ब्राह्मणै-
(The first three plates of the grant are not forthcoming.)
Our officers of noble birth who are employed by the order of the sarvādhyakṣa (General Superintendent) and who exercise their authority by our command, our soldiers and policemen should be directed by the following order which is already well-known to them:
“Be it known that, in order to increase our religious merit, life, power, and prosperity, and to obtain blessings for ourself in this world and the next...we grant the following exemptions: It is not to be entered by regular soldiers and policemen; it does not carry with it the State's customary right to cows and bulls, nor does it carry the royalties on flowers and milk; it is exempt from the obligation to provide pasturage, hides for 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 completely free from all kinds of forced labour (sarva-viṣṭi); it carries with it major and minor taxes (klṛpta and upaklṛpta); it is to be enjoyed for as long as the sun and the moon endure; and it is to follow the succession of grandsons.
No one should cause an obstruction while it is being enjoyed. It should be protected and increased by all means. And whosoever, disregarding our charter, causes or makes others cause even the slightest obstruction, upon him, when complained against by the Brāhmaṇas...
(The subsequent plates of the grant are not forthcoming.)
| Dynasty: | Vākāṭaka |
| Source: | |
| Ruler: | Pravarasena II |
| Date: | c. 420 to 455 CE |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Nature of grant: | Land donation |
| Purpose: | For increasing religious merit, life, power, victory, prosperity, and blessings of the donor |
| Provenance of inscription: | Ramtek, Nagpur, Maharashtra |
| Type of Inscription: | Copperplate grant |
