The Siwani copper plates, discovered in the Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, represent a five-plate charter issued by the Vākāṭaka ruler Pravarasena II. The text is engraved in the box-headed Brāhmī script and is composed in Sanskrit. The charter was executed by a scribe named Ācārya, with Bāppadeva acting as senāpati. The seal carries a four-line legend proclaiming the enemy-chastising command of king Pravarasena II.
The primary objective of the edict is to document the donation of the village Brahmapūraka, located in the Beṇṇākārpara bhoga through the ritual pouring of water. The grant was bestowed upon the adhvaryu āchārya Devaśarman of the Maudgalya gotra and Taittirīya śākhā, on the twelfth lunar day of Phālguna in the eighteenth regnal year. The charter includes specific taxation rights, notably the privilege to levy a tax equal to one-fiftieth of the sale-price of goods. The grant was issued from the royal capital.
First Plate
1. dṛṣṭam || siddham | agniṣṭomāptoryyāmoktthyaṣoḍaśyatirātravājapeyabṛhaspatisava-
2. sādyaskracaturaśvamedhayājinaḥ viṣṇuvṛddhasagotrasya samrājo vākāṭakānā-
3. mmahārājaśrīpravarasenasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ atyantasvāmimahā-
4. bhairavabhaktasya aṃsabhārasannive śitaśivaliṅgodvahanaśivasuparituṣṭa-
5. samutpāditarājavaṃśānām parākramādhigatabhāgīratthyamalajalamūrddhābhi-
Second Plate : First side
6. ṣiktānām daśāśvamedhāvabhṛthasnātānāmbhāraśivānāmmahārāja-śrībhavanā-
7. gadauhitrasya gautamī putrasya putrasya | vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrī-
8. rudrasenasya sūnoḥ atyantamāheśvarasya | satyārjjavakāruṇyaśau-
9. ryyavikramanayavinayamāhātmyadhīmattva pātrāgatabhaktitvadharmmavijayi-
10. tvamanonairmmalyādiguṇasamuditasya | varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośa-
11. daṇḍasādhanasantānaputrapautriṇaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravṛttervvākāṭakānāmmahārāja-
Second Plate : Second side
12. śrīpṛthivīṣeṇasya sūnoḥ bhagavataścakrapāṇeḥ prasādopārjjita-
13. śrīsamudayasya | vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnoḥ
14. pūrvvarājānuvṛttamārggānusāriṇaḥ sunayabalaparākkramo-
15. cchinnasarvadviṣaḥ mahārājādhirājaśrīdevaguptasutāyāmprabhāvatī-
16. guptāyāmutpannasya śambhoḥ prasādadhṛta kārttayugasya vākāṭaka-
Third Plate : First side
17. vaṃśālaṅkārabhūtasya | mahārājaśrīpravarasenasya vacanāt beṇṇā-
18. kārpparabhoge pravarddhamānarājyasaṃvatsare | aṣṭādaśaśe | phālgu-
19. naśukladvādaśyām maudgalyasagotrāya | taittirīyāyāddhvaryya-
20. ve devaśarmmācāryyāyodakapūrvvam sakoraṭaḥ sapañcāśatkaḥ
21. brahmapūrakannāma grāmotisṛṣṭaḥ | vaṭapūrakasyottareṇa | kiṇihikhe-
22. ṭakasyāpareṇa | pravarajjavāṭakasya dakṣiṇena | kollapūrakasya
Third Plate : Second side
23. pūrvveṇa | svasīmāparicchedena karatrjavirakataṭe | atrāsmatsantakāḥ
24. sarvvādhyakṣaniyoganiyuktāḥ ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭā
25. ścātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayā ājñayā ājñāpayitavyāḥ | vidita-
26. mastu vaḥ yathaiṣosmābhiḥ ātmano dharmmāyurbbalavijayaiśvaryyavivṛddhaye
27. ihāmutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya | vaijayike dharmmasthāne atisṛṣṭaḥ-
Fourth Plate : First side
28. cchātraprāveśyaḥ apāramparagobalivarddaḥ apuṣpakṣīrasandohaḥ acā-
29. rāsanacarmmāṅgāraḥ alavaṇaklinna kreṇikhanakaḥ sarvvaviṣṭiparihāra-
30. parihṛtaḥ sanidhiḥ sopanidhiḥ saklṛptopaklṛptaḥ ācandrāditya-
31. kālīyaḥ putrapautrānugāmī | bhujyamāno na kenacidvyāghātayi-
32. tavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhiḥ samrakṣitavyaḥ parivarddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsma-
33. cchāsanamagaṇayamānaḥ svalpāmapi paribādhāṅkuryyātkārayedvā
Fourth Plate : Second side
34. tasya brāhmaṇairāveditasya | sadaṇḍanigrahaṃ kuryyāma kārayema veti |
35. senāpatau bāppadeve likhitamācāryyeṇa || asmimśca dharmmādarakara-
36. ṇe atītānekarājadattāsaṃcintanaparipālanaṃ kṛtapu-
37. ṇyānukīrttanaparihārārttha na kīrttayāmaḥ | eṣyatkālaprabhaviṣṇūnāṃ gauravādbhavipyānvi-
38. jñāpayāmaḥ || vyāsagītau cātra ślokau pramāṇīkarttavyau ||
Fifth Plate
39. ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi svargge modati bhūmidaḥ | ācchettā cānumantā
40. ca tānyeva narake vaset || svadattāṃ vā paradattāvvā yo hare-
41. ta vasundharām | gavāṃ śatasahasrasya hanturharati duṣkṛtam || iti ||
SEAL
1 vākāṭakalalāmasya
2 kramaprāptanṛpaśriyaḥ |
3 rājñapravarasenasya
4 śāsanam ripuśāsanam ||
फ़िर्स्त् प्लते
१। दृष्टम् ॥ सिद्धम् । अग्निष्टोमाप्तोर्य्यामोक्त्थ्यषोडश्यतिरात्रवाजपेयबृहस्पतिसव-
२। साद्यस्क्रचतुरश्वमेधयाजिनः विष्णुवृद्धसगोत्रस्य सम्राजो वाकाटकाना-
३। म्महाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य सूनोः सूनोः अत्यन्तस्वामिमहा-
४। भैरवभक्तस्य अंसभारसन्निवे शितशिवलिङ्गोद्वहनशिवसुपरितुष्ट-
५। समुत्पादितराजवंशानाम् पराक्रमाधिगतभागीरत्थ्यमलजलमूर्द्धाभि-
सेचोन्द् प्लते : फ़िर्स्त् सिदे
६। षिक्तानाम् दशाश्वमेधावभृथस्नातानाम्भारशिवानाम्महाराज-श्रीभवना-
७। गदौहित्रस्य गौतमी पुत्रस्य पुत्रस्य । वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्री-
८। रुद्रसेनस्य सूनोः अत्यन्तमाहेश्वरस्य । सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौ-
९। र्य्यविक्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्यधीमत्त्व पात्रागतभक्तित्वधर्म्मविजयि-
१०। त्वमनोनैर्म्मल्यादिगुणसमुदितस्य । वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोश-
११। दण्डसाधनसन्तानपुत्रपौत्रिणः युधिष्ठिरवृत्तेर्व्वाकाटकानाम्महाराज-
सेचोन्द् प्लते : सेचोन्द् सिदे
१२। श्रीपृथिवीषेणस्य सूनोः भगवतश्चक्रपाणेः प्रसादोपार्ज्जित-
१३। श्रीसमुदयस्य । वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोः
१४। पूर्व्वराजानुवृत्तमार्ग्गानुसारिणः सुनयबलपराक्क्रमो-
१५। च्छिन्नसर्वद्विषः महाराजाधिराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम्प्रभावती-
१६। गुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्य शम्भोः प्रसादधृत कार्त्तयुगस्य वाकाटक-
थिर्द् प्लते : फ़िर्स्त् सिदे
१७। वंशालङ्कारभूतस्य । महाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य वचनात् बेण्णा-
१८। कार्प्परभोगे प्रवर्द्धमानराज्यसंवत्सरे । अष्टादशशे । फाल्गु-
१९। नशुक्लद्वादश्याम् मौद्गल्यसगोत्राय । तैत्तिरीयायाद्ध्वर्य्य-
२०। वे देवशर्म्माचार्य्यायोदकपूर्व्वम् सकोरटः सपञ्चाशत्कः
२१। ब्रह्मपूरकन्नाम ग्रामोतिसृष्टः । वटपूरकस्योत्तरेण । किणिहिखे-
२२। टकस्यापरेण । प्रवरज्जवाटकस्य दक्षिणेन । कोल्लपूरकस्य
थिर्द् प्लते : सेचोन्द् सिदे
२३। पूर्व्वेण । स्वसीमापरिच्छेदेन करत्र्जविरकतटे । अत्रास्मत्सन्तकाः
२४। सर्व्वाध्यक्षनियोगनियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृता भटा
२५। श्चात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वया आज्ञया आज्ञापयितव्याः । विदित-
२६। मस्तु वः यथैषोस्माभिः आत्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बलविजयैश्वर्य्यविवृद्धये
२७। इहामुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय । वैजयिके धर्म्मस्थाने अतिसृष्टः-
फ़ोउर्थ् प्लते : फ़िर्स्त् सिदे
२८। च्छात्रप्रावेश्यः अपारम्परगोबलिवर्द्दः अपुष्पक्षीरसन्दोहः अचा-
२९। रासनचर्म्माङ्गारः अलवणक्लिन्न क्रेणिखनकः सर्व्वविष्टिपरिहार-
३०। परिहृतः सनिधिः सोपनिधिः सक्लृप्तोपक्लृप्तः आचन्द्रादित्य-
३१। कालीयः पुत्रपौत्रानुगामी । भुज्यमानो न केनचिद्व्याघातयि-
३२। तव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभिः सम्रक्षितव्यः परिवर्द्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्म-
३३। च्छासनमगणयमानः स्वल्पामपि परिबाधाङ्कुर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा
फ़ोउर्थ् प्लते : सेचोन्द् सिदे
३४। तस्य ब्राह्मणैरावेदितस्य । सदण्डनिग्रहं कुर्य्याम कारयेम वेति ।
३५। सेनापतौ बाप्पदेवे लिखितमाचार्य्येण ॥ अस्मिम्श्च धर्म्मादरकर-
३६। णे अतीतानेकराजदत्तासंचिन्तनपरिपालनं कृतपु-
३७। ण्यानुकीर्त्तनपरिहारार्त्थ न कीर्त्तयामः । एष्यत्कालप्रभविष्णूनां गौरवाद्भविप्यान्वि-
३८। ज्ञापयामः ॥ व्यासगीतौ चात्र श्लोकौ प्रमाणीकर्त्तव्यौ ॥
फ़िफ़्थ् प्लते
३९। षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्ग्गे मोदति भूमिदः । आच्छेत्ता चानुमन्ता
४०। च तान्येव नरके वसेत् ॥ स्वदत्तां वा परदत्ताव्वा यो हरे-
४१। त वसुन्धराम् । गवां शतसहस्रस्य हन्तुर्हरति दुष्कृतम् ॥ इति ॥
मुद्रा
१ वाकाटकललामस्य
२ क्रमप्राप्तनृपश्रियः ।
३ राज्ञप्रवरसेनस्य
४ शासनम् रिपुशासनम् ॥
Prose section
dṛṣṭam || siddham | agniṣṭomāptoryyāmoktthyaṣoḍaśyatirātravājapeyabṛhaspatisava-
sādyaskracaturaśvamedhayājinaḥ viṣṇuvṛddhasagotrasya samrājo vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpravarasenasya sūnoḥ sūnoḥ atyantasvāmimahābhairavabhaktasya amsabhārasannive śitaśivaliṅgodvahanaśivasuparituṣṭasamutpāditarājavamśānām parākramādhigatabhāgīratthyamalajalamūrddhābhiṣiktānām daśāśvamedhāvabhṛthasnātānāmbhāraśivānāmmahārājaśrībhavanāgadauhitrasya gautamī putrasya putrasya | vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnoḥ atyantamāheśvarasya | satyārjjavakāruṇyaśauryyavikramanayavinayamāhātmyadhīmattva pātrāgatabhaktitvadharmmavijayitvamanonairmmalyādiguṇasamuditasya | varṣaśatamabhivarddhamānakośadaṇḍasādhanasantānaputrapautriṇaḥ yudhiṣṭhiravṛttervvākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīpṛthivīṣeṇasya sūnoḥ bhagavataścakrapāṇeḥ prasādopārjjitaśrīsamudayasya |
vākāṭakānāmmahārājaśrīrudrasenasya sūnoḥ pūrvvarājānuvṛttamārggānusāriṇaḥ sunayabalaparākkramocchinnasarvadviṣaḥ mahārājādhirājaśrīdevaguptasutāyāmprabhāvatīguptāyāmutpannasya śambhoḥ prasādadhṛta kārttayugasya vākāṭakavamśālaṅkārabhūtasya | mahārājaśrīpravarasenasya vacanāt beṇṇākārpparabhoge pravarddhamānarājyasamvatsare | aṣṭādaśaśe | phālgunaśukladvādaśyām maudgalyasagotrāya | taittirīyāyāddhvaryyave devaśarmmācāryyāyodakapūrvvam sakoraṭaḥ sapañcāśatkaḥ brahmapūrakannāma grāmotisṛṣṭaḥ | vaṭapūrakasyottareṇa | kiṇihikheṭakasyāpareṇa | pravarajjavāṭakasya dakṣiṇena | kollapūrakasya pūrvveṇa | svasīmāparicchedena karatrjavirakataṭe | atrāsmatsantakāḥ sarvvādhyakṣaniyoganiyuktāḥ ājñāsañcārikulaputrādhikṛtā bhaṭā ścātrāśca viśrutapūrvvayā ājñayā ājñāpayitavyāḥ | viditamastu vaḥ yathaiṣosmābhiḥ ātmano dharmmāyurbbalavijayaiśvaryyavivṛddhaye ihāmutrahitārtthamātmānugrahāya |
vaijayike dharmmasthāne atisṛṣṭaḥcchātraprāveśyaḥ apāramparagobalivarddaḥ apuṣpakṣīrasandohaḥ acārāsanacarmmāṅgāraḥ alavaṇaklinna kreṇikhanakaḥ sarvvaviṣṭiparihāraparihṛtaḥ sanidhiḥ sopanidhiḥ saklṛptopaklṛptaḥ ācandrādityakālīyaḥ putrapautrānugāmī | bhujyamāno na kenacidvyāghātayitavyaḥ sarvvakriyābhiḥ saṃrakṣitavyaḥ parivarddhayitavyaśca | yaścāsmacchāsanamagaṇayamānaḥ svalpāmapi paribādhāṅkuryyātkārayedvā tasya brāhmaṇairāveditasya | sadaṇḍanigrahaṃ kuryyāma kārayema veti | senāpatau bāppadeve likhitamācāryyeṇa || asmimśca dharmmādarakaraṇe atītānekarājadattāsamcintanaparipālanam kṛtapuṇyānukīrttanaparihārārttha na kīrttayāmaḥ | eṣyatkālaprabhaviṣṇūnām gauravādbhavipyānvijñāpayāmaḥ || vyāsagītau cātra ślokau pramāṇīkarttavyau ||
Verse 1
ṣaṣṭhim varṣasahasrāṇi
svargge modati bhūmidaḥ |
ācchettā cānumantā ca
tānyeva narake vaset || (anuṣṭup)
Verse 2
svadattām paradattām vā
yo hareta vasundharām |
gavāṃmśatasahasrasya
hantur harati duṣkṛtam || iti ||(anuṣṭup)
SEAL
vākāṭakalalāmasya
kramaprāptanṛpaśriyaḥ |
rājñapravarasenasya
śāsanam ripuśāsanam ||(anuṣṭup)
प्रोसे सेच्तिओन्
दृष्टम् ॥ सिद्धम् । अग्निष्टोमाप्तोर्य्यामोक्त्थ्यषोडश्यतिरात्रवाजपेयबृहस्पतिसव-
साद्यस्क्रचतुरश्वमेधयाजिनः विष्णुवृद्धसगोत्रस्य सम्राजो वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य सूनोः सूनोः अत्यन्तस्वामिमहाभैरवभक्तस्य अम्सभारसन्निवे शितशिवलिङ्गोद्वहनशिवसुपरितुष्टसमुत्पादितराजवम्शानाम् पराक्रमाधिगतभागीरत्थ्यमलजलमूर्द्धाभिषिक्तानाम् दशाश्वमेधावभृथस्नातानाम्भारशिवानाम्महाराजश्रीभवनागदौहित्रस्य गौतमी पुत्रस्य पुत्रस्य । वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोः अत्यन्तमाहेश्वरस्य । सत्यार्ज्जवकारुण्यशौर्य्यविक्रमनयविनयमाहात्म्यधीमत्त्व पात्रागतभक्तित्वधर्म्मविजयित्वमनोनैर्म्मल्यादिगुणसमुदितस्य । वर्षशतमभिवर्द्धमानकोशदण्डसाधनसन्तानपुत्रपौत्रिणः युधिष्ठिरवृत्तेर्व्वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीपृथिवीषेणस्य सूनोः भगवतश्चक्रपाणेः प्रसादोपार्ज्जितश्रीसमुदयस्य ।
वाकाटकानाम्महाराजश्रीरुद्रसेनस्य सूनोः पूर्व्वराजानुवृत्तमार्ग्गानुसारिणः सुनयबलपराक्क्रमोच्छिन्नसर्वद्विषः महाराजाधिराजश्रीदेवगुप्तसुतायाम्प्रभावतीगुप्तायामुत्पन्नस्य शम्भोः प्रसादधृत कार्त्तयुगस्य वाकाटकवम्शालङ्कारभूतस्य । महाराजश्रीप्रवरसेनस्य वचनात् बेण्णाकार्प्परभोगे प्रवर्द्धमानराज्यसम्वत्सरे । अष्टादशशे । फाल्गुनशुक्लद्वादश्याम् मौद्गल्यसगोत्राय । तैत्तिरीयायाद्ध्वर्य्यवे देवशर्म्माचार्य्यायोदकपूर्व्वम् सकोरटः सपञ्चाशत्कः ब्रह्मपूरकन्नाम ग्रामोतिसृष्टः । वटपूरकस्योत्तरेण । किणिहिखेटकस्यापरेण । प्रवरज्जवाटकस्य दक्षिणेन । कोल्लपूरकस्य पूर्व्वेण । स्वसीमापरिच्छेदेन करत्र्जविरकतटे । अत्रास्मत्सन्तकाः सर्व्वाध्यक्षनियोगनियुक्ताः आज्ञासञ्चारिकुलपुत्राधिकृता भटा श्चात्राश्च विश्रुतपूर्व्वया आज्ञया आज्ञापयितव्याः । विदितमस्तु वः यथैषोस्माभिः आत्मनो धर्म्मायुर्ब्बलविजयैश्वर्य्यविवृद्धये इहामुत्रहितार्त्थमात्मानुग्रहाय ।
वैजयिके धर्म्मस्थाने अतिसृष्टःच्छात्रप्रावेश्यः अपारम्परगोबलिवर्द्दः अपुष्पक्षीरसन्दोहः अचारासनचर्म्माङ्गारः अलवणक्लिन्न क्रेणिखनकः सर्व्वविष्टिपरिहारपरिहृतः सनिधिः सोपनिधिः सक्लृप्तोपक्लृप्तः आचन्द्रादित्यकालीयः पुत्रपौत्रानुगामी । भुज्यमानो न केनचिद्व्याघातयितव्यः सर्व्वक्रियाभिः संरक्षितव्यः परिवर्द्धयितव्यश्च । यश्चास्मच्छासनमगणयमानः स्वल्पामपि परिबाधाङ्कुर्य्यात्कारयेद्वा तस्य ब्राह्मणैरावेदितस्य । सदण्डनिग्रहं कुर्य्याम कारयेम वेति । सेनापतौ बाप्पदेवे लिखितमाचार्य्येण ॥ अस्मिम्श्च धर्म्मादरकरणे अतीतानेकराजदत्तासम्चिन्तनपरिपालनम् कृतपुण्यानुकीर्त्तनपरिहारार्त्थ न कीर्त्तयामः । एष्यत्कालप्रभविष्णूनाम् गौरवाद्भविप्यान्विज्ञापयामः ॥ व्यासगीतौ चात्र श्लोकौ प्रमाणीकर्त्तव्यौ ॥
वेर्से १
षष्ठिम् वर्षसहस्राणि
स्वर्ग्गे मोदति भूमिदः ।
आच्छेत्ता चानुमन्ता च
तान्येव नरके वसेत् ॥ (अनुष्टुप्)
वेर्से २
स्वदत्ताम् परदत्ताम् वा
यो हरेत वसुन्धराम् ।
गवांम्शतसहस्रस्य
हन्तुर् हरति दुष्कृतम् ॥ इति ॥(अनुष्टुप्)
मुद्रा
वाकाटकललामस्य
क्रमप्राप्तनृपश्रियः ।
राज्ञप्रवरसेनस्य
शासनम् रिपुशासनम् ॥(अनुष्टुप्)
Line 1–16
Seen. By the order of the mahārāja, the illustrious Pravarasena II; an ornament of the Vākāṭaka family; who, by the grace of Śambhu, has established the Kṛta yuga on the earth; who was born of Prabhāvatīguptā, the daughter of the mahārājādhirāja, the illustrious Devagupta; who has exterminated all his enemies by his excellent policy, strength, and valour; who follows the path adopted by former kings; and who is the son of Rudrasena II, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who acquired an abundance of prosperity by the grace of the divine lord Cakrapāṇi (Viṣṇu); who was the son of the illustrious Pṛthivīṣeṇa I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas, who was intensely devoted to the god Maheśvara, endowed with truthfulness, straightforwardness, compassion, heroism, valour, political wisdom, modesty, high-mindedness, intelligence, devotion to worthy persons, the state of being a righteous conqueror, purity of mind, and other such qualities, who had sons and grandsons and a continuous supply of treasure and an army accumulating for a hundred years, and who conducted himself like Yudhiṣṭhira; who was the son of the illustrious Rudrasena I, the mahārāja of the Vākāṭakas and the son of Gautamīputra, an intense devotee of the god Svāmi-Mahābhairava and 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 Śiva-liṅga like a load placed upon their shoulders, and who were besprinkled on their heads with the pure water of the river Bhāgīrathī obtained by their valour; and 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 Aśvamedha sacrifices, and who belonged to the Viṣṇuvṛddha gotra.
Line 17–34
The village named Brahmapūraka, together with koraṭa and the right to levy a tax equal to one-fiftieth of the sale price, situated in the bhoga of Beṇṇākārpara, has been given, with the pouring out of water, to the Adhvaryu ācārya Devaśarman of the Maudgalya gotra and the Taittirīya śākhā, on the twelfth lunar day in the bright fortnight of the eighteenth regnal year.
This village lies, according to the specification of its boundaries, adjoining the village Karañjaviraka, to the north of Vaṭapuraka, to the west of Kiṇihikheṭaka, to the south of Pavarajjavāṭaka, and to the east of Kollapuraka.
Wherefore, our officials of noble birth; who are employed by the order of the sarvādhyakṣa (general superintendent) and exercise their authority by our command; as well as 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 here in our victorious place of religious worship as a gift not previously made, confirmed with the pouring out of water.
And we grant the following exemptions, which are customary for a village bestowed upon 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 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 grass, 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 free from all kinds of forced labour; it is donated together with the right to hidden treasures and deposits, as well as major and minor taxes; it is to be enjoyed for as long as the sun and the moon endure; and it is to follow the succession of sons and grandsons. No one should cause an obstruction while the donee or his successor is enjoying it. This grant should be preserved and increased by all means. And whosoever, disregarding our order, causes or makes others cause even the slightest obstruction, upon him, when complained against by the Brāhmaṇas, we will inflict punishment together with a fine.”
Line 35–37
This charter has been written by the ācārya, while Bāppadeva is the senāpati. And in this matter of religion, in order to avoid mentioning meritorious deeds already done, we do not refer to our care and protection of the grants of many past kings, and we make this request to future rulers out of reverence for them.
Line 38
The following verses sung by Vyāsa should be regarded as authoritative on this point:
(Here occur two benedictive and imprecatory verses.)
SEAL
This is the enemy-chastising command of King Pravarasena II, the ornament of the Vākāṭakas, who has attained royal fortune by inheritance.
Bibliography & Research
- Fleet, J. F. (1888). No 56. Siwani Copper Plate Inscription of Maharaja Pravarasena II. In Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum (pp. 243-249). Archaeological Survey of India.
- Mirashi, V. V. (Ed.). (1963). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: The Inscriptions of the Vākāṭakas (Vol. V). Archaeological Survey of India.
- Prinsep, J. (1836). V. Facsimiles of various Ancient Inscriptions, lithographed. Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal, V, 724-731.
| Dynasty: | Vākāṭaka |
| Source: | |
| Ruler: | Pravarasena II |
| Date: | c. 420 to 455 CE (Phālguna, śukla 12, Regnal year 18) |
| Donee: | Brāhmaṇa Devaśarmācārya of Mudgalya gōtra and Taittirīya śākhā |
| Language: | Sanskrit |
| Nature of grant: | Land donation |
| Purpose: | To legitimise the donation of Brahmapūraka village to secure spiritual merit |
| Provenance of inscription: | Pindarai village, Chhindwada, Madhya Pradesh |
| Type of Inscription: | Copperplate grant |
