SECTION 4
The Cave Dedications of Asoka in the Barâbtr Hills, and of his grandson Dusaratha in the Nigirjuni Hills, Bihâr.
(Fact. and ed. of all by Būhler in Ind. Ant, xx (1891), p. 361.)
1. THE ASOKA DEDICATIONS
I. THE BANYAN-TREE OR SUDÂMA CAVE
'This Banyan—tree cave was granted to the Âjîvikas by the King's Grace (lajinâ Piyadainá) when he had been consecrated twelve years.'
2. THE KHALATIKA OR VIŚVA-JH0PRî CAVE
A ‘This cave in the Khalatikei Hill was granted to the Âjîvikas by the King's Grace, when he had been consecrateal twelve years.'
3. THE SUPIYâ OR KARŅA-CHAUPÂR CAVE
'The King’s Grace (lâjâ Piyadasi), when he had been consecrated nineteen years, granted the (?) Supiyâ Cave in the (2) Khalatika Hill for as long as sun and moon endure.'
Comment
For brief notice of the caves and the Âjîvika sect of ascetics, see ante, pp. 134, 135.
The second inscription is almost perfect; the first is damaged; and the third is almost illegible.
The script is somewhat cursive.
Two approximately contemporary inscriptions, discovered by Mr. V. H. Jackson in 1913 and 1914, give the name of the hill as Gorathargiri, which occurs in Mbh., Sabhâ Parva, xx, 30 (Madras text). The name Khalatika is found in the Vârttika.
