No. 33. Kanheri Buddhist cave inscription. Prakrit.
| The inscription is on the lefthand side-wall, outside the verandah of Cave No. 88. The upper portion of the inscription is defaced. It measures 1.8 m x 95 cm. Letters 6 cm x 5 cm. Characters: 2nd Century A.D. Language: Prakrit. Orthography: The letters are deeply cut. The medial i is written stylistically (L.3 Poдhi), there is no distinction between 'ta' and 'na'. The letters are similar to those of the inscription of Nahapаna.(ShG) |
| 1847 Bird, Hist. Res. Plate XLVI, 20; 1853 Stevenson, JBBRAS V, p. 31, No. 18, and Plate, No. 20; 1861 West, JBBRAS VI, p. 9, No. 35, and Plate; 1883 Buфhler, ASWI V, p. 84, No. 26; Luders list 1016; ShG No 51; |
| Lu: - Fragment. Gift of a cave (lенa) and a water-cistern (pаnиyapодhи) by the monk (pavajita) . . . . mitanaka ( . . . mitra), pupil (aмtеvаsin) of . . . pаla, to the congregation of the monks (bhikhusagha) of the four quarters. Also endowment. |
TEXT.
1. . . . . . . . . . . . pаlа[нaм]-[aмtevа]sisa
2. . . . . . . нayasa . . . [M]itanakasa pavajitasa
3. . . . . leнa . . . pаnиya poдhи cha
4. [de]yadhama-[chа]tudise bhikhusaghe pati-
5. тhаpitaм mаtаpitaro udisa savasatаna
6. hitasukhaтha apaнo cha nivанаsa bhara-
7. тha etasa cha akhayanivi dinа
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The inscription has recorded the word 'Nirvaнаша '. It is the unique epigraphical
evidence of the word 'Niravанаша'. This is the only inscription which records the
wish of the donor for final liberation. (ShG)
ASWI read stk. 7 as the last part of stk.6