No. 18. Kanheri Buddhist cave inscription of the time of rаjan M[а*]дhariputa svаmi-Sakasеna. Prakrit.

The inscription is on the right-hand side wall outside the Verandah of Cave No. 74. It is cut on a somewhat honey-combed surface. It measures 1.17 m. x 89 cm. Letters 6 cm. x 5 cm. Characters: Brаhmи, 3rd Century AD. Language: Prakrit. Orthography: The letters are having elongated forms. (ShG)
1861 West, JBBRAS VI, p. 6 f., No. 19, and Plate; 1877 Bhagvanlal Indraji, JBBRAS XII, p. 407 f., and Plate; 1881 Bhagvanlal Indraji, Inscr. Cave-Templ. W. Ind. p. 60 f.; 1883 Buфhler, ASWI V, p. 79, No. 14, and Plate LI; 1895 note by Bhandarkar, Early History of the Dekkan, p. 20, note 1; 1908 note by Rapson, Catalogue of the Coins of the Andhra Dynasty, etc. p. XLVII, No. 5; Luders list 1001; ShG No 41;
Lu: -raго Maдhariputasa svаmi-Sakasеnasa savachharе 8 gi pa 5 diva 10 еtаya puvаya
-Establiшment of a cave (lенa) by the merchant (nеgama) and house-holder (gahapati) . . . .ti, son of the merchant (nеkama) Veнhunaмdi (Viшнunandin), the Kaliyaнaka (inhabitant of Kalyанa) together with the venerable (аyyaka) . . . . . . . . , with his father Veнhunadi (Viшнunandin), his mother Bоdhisamа, his brother . . . . hathi ( . . . . hastin), and all his relatives. Compare No. 1002 (No. 19).

TEXT.

1. Sidhaм raгo Ma(Mа)дhariputasa Svаmi Sakasenasa
2 savachhare 8 gimha pakhe diva 10 etаya puvаya Ka-
3. liyaнakasa nekamasa Veнhunaмdisa pуtasa nega-
4. masa gahapatisa . . . tisa l[e]нa pa[ti]тhаpi-
5. ta sahа Аyyak[e]нa . sena sahа pitu[на] Veнhuna-
6. dinа sahа mаtuye Bodhisamаya sahа bhа-
7. [tunа . . . ] hathinа sahа [sa]vena [n]i[kаyeneti]
_____________________________
L. 2. gi pa (ASWI)