(Dec. 6, 1872.
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. The boundaries from the east to the north-east have
III. THANSLATION OF A BALABAND COPPER G RANT IN THE POSSESSION OF THE
thus been completed.
BHIMANAKATTE MATHA, KAWALEDURGA
II.-Sámányoyam dharma setúrnrupánám. Kále kále pālaniyê bhavadbhihi. Sarvānétán bhávinaha párthivéndrán. Bhtlyó bhūyd yécható Rámachendraha. Rámachandra again and again entreats all future great kings —This (grant) which is a bridge of charity common to rulers should from time to time be protected by you.
III.-Dánapálanayor madhyá. Dánáchhreyonu pålanam. Dánát svarga mavápnóti. Pálanādachyutum padam. Between giving and saving (of charities,) it is more meritorious to save than to give. By giving (the donor) attains svargam, or Indrá's paradise, but by saving, everlasting position (bliss) is attained.
IV.-Madvansajáha paramahipati vamsajává. Yé bhūmipás satata mujvala dharma chittáhá. Maddharma méva paripálana mácharanti Tatpādapadma yūgalam sirasá namámi. I salute with my head the lotus-like feet of those rulers, whether descendants of my own race or of
other dynasties, who always with a conspicuous love of virtue, uphold and confirm my charity. Note by the Translator.
The first sloka is an invocation used by most grantors of ináms, because in the third incarnation, Vishnu is supposed to have restored the earth from
the grasp of Hiranyaksha, a demon who had usurped, and carried it away. The year is denoted by the letters ka, ta, ka, which are the first letters of two different sets of letters in
the alphabet. It is usual to read the figures thus expressed from right to left.
In this case, the era is
not mentioned. . . .
The characters in which the grant is embodied are
called by the Inámdars the “Nandi Nâgaru.” But they resemble the modern “Bálaband” more than any other. The language is a mixture of Sanskrit
and Kanarese, the former disfigured by a great many inaccuracies, whose existence cannot be accounted
for except under the supposition, not improbable, that the engraver was ignorant of Sanskrit, and the original composer of the grant did not revise
TALUKA.
Prostrations to Ganapati, Remover of Obstacles.
I.—Pántu vá jalada shyāmaha, Shárgna jyá ghāta karkasháha. Trailókya mantapa stambhāha, Chatváró hari bahavaha.
May the four arms of Hari (Vishnu), which are as dark as the water-laden clouds, which are hardened
by the scars caused by the blow of the string of the Shárgna bow, and which are as the foundation pillars of the Mantapa of the three worlds, save ye. In the year Plavanga, in the 89th year of the era of Yudhishthira, in the month of Pushya, on new moonday, on Wednesday, King Janaméjaya, the arbiter of the Mahārājas, the master of the rājas, the possessor of the valour of heroes, the descendant of the race of Kuru, who is seated on the throne of the city of Kishkindha, the protector of all professions and castes, made this grant for the pºije of Sítárám, worshipped by Kaivalyanātha, disciple of Garuda vāhanatirtha Sripada, of the Munibrinda Matha, in Wrikódara (Bhima) Kshetra, situated in the western town of Sítápura. The boundaries of the Munibrinda Kshétra, in which my great grandfather Yudhish thira remained are, L
On the East.—Western bank of the Tungabhadra, flowing towards the north. On the South.-North of the confluence near Agastya Ashrama. On the West.—East of the Bána Nadi. South of the Khūma Nadi.
On the North
Munibrindakshetra, situated within these bound aries, is granted by me, with offerings of the Tungabhadra water and money, in the presence of Harihara, on the occasion of an eclipse, into the hands of the yati or sanyasi, with my free consent, in view to obtaining Vishnu's heaven for my parents, to be enjoyed by you and the line of your disciples, as long as the sun and the moon last, inclusive of the items of hidden wealth, treasure trove, water, trees, minerals, future acquisitions and improvements, &c. The witnesses of this deed of charity are–
II.-Aditya chandravaniló nalascha, Dyur bhūmirápó hridayam Yamascha. Ahascha rātrischaubhécha sandye. Dhārmascha jánáti narasya writtam. A man's conduct and actions are known to the
sun, moon, air, fire, firmament, earth, water, heart,
his work.
The grant is engrossed on three sheets of copper, the edges of two of which are broken, clasped by a solid ring of the same metal which is stamped with a seal bearing the inscription of a boar. In translating the slokas which are written at the commencement and termination of the grant, the grammatical mistakes found in the original have been rectified.
W. N. NARASIMMIYENGAR.
Yama, day, night, morning, evening, and duty. III.—Dánapálanayór madhye. Dana chchréyònu pálanam. Dánátsvárgámávápnóti. Pálánádachchyutam pudam. Between giving and protecting, it is more merito rious to protect. By giving (the donor) attains svarga, but by protecting, immortal station (Heaven) is attained.
