No. 19. Kanheri Buddhist cave inscription. Prakrit.
| The inscription is on the left-hand side-wall outside the verandah of Cave No. 74. The inscription is very faint on an uneven surface of the rock. It is in mutilated condition. It refers to the donation of the son of Veнhunandi. The inscription measures 1.2 m. x 1.7 m. Letters 8 cm x 5 cm. Characters: Brаhmи, 3rd Century A.D. Language: Prakrit. Orthography: The letters show peculiarities of early 3rd Century Brаhmи. The letters have elongated verticals, letters pa' and 'ha' have flat base. (ShG) |
| 1861 West, JBBRAS VI. p. 7, No. 20, and Plate; 1883 Buфhler, ASWI V, p. 82, No. 19; 1896 note by Franke, ZDMG L, p. 598; 1908 note by Rapson, Catalogue of the Coins of the Andhra Dynasty, etc. p. XLVII, No. 6; Luders list 1002; ShG No 42; |
| - raго Ma[дhariputasa] svаmi-Saka[sеnasa] . . . . . . . . divа 10
еtaya . . . . - Fragment. Records the gift of a cave (lенa). The following names can be made out: the son of Veнhunadi (Viшнunandin); Hаlaнikа; the venerable (аyyaka) Lа . . . ; Dhаmа; Buddhakaya (?). Compare No. 1001 (No.18). |
TEXT.
1. Sadha ra. Ma[дhariputasa Svаmi Sakase-
2. [nasa . . . . . [di]vа 10 etаyi
3. . . . . . . . . . . . vaтhaveya Veнhunandiputra-
4. [sa] . . . . . sa bhajаya Hаlaнikа le-
5. [нa patiтhаpita sa]hа Аyyakena. Lа . . . sa . . . .
6. . . . . . . vasatena Dhаmaye saha . . . . . .
7. . . . . . Budhakayena sahа vi . . . . . .
__________________________________________________
At present some letters are not visible but I have retained the reading of Burgess (ShG).
ASWI read stroke as 6. . . . . . . vasatena Dhаmaye saha . . . . . .