No. 37. Buddhist cave inscription. Prakrit.
| The inscription is on the right hand-side-wall outside the verandah of Cave No. 65. The inscription is deeply cut and distinct but it is broken at the right hand end and therefore the last letters in each line are illegible. It measures 1.10 m. x 71 cm. Letters 5 cm. x 7.5 cm. Characters: Brаhmи, 2nd Century AD. Language: Prakrit. Orthography: The letters are deep. There is no distinction between 'ta' and na'. Blank space is left after the words. (ShG) |
| 1847 Bird, Hist. Res. Plate XLV, 18; 1853 Stevenson-Brett, JBBRAS V, p. 20 f., No. 8, and Plate, No. 10; 1861 West, JBBRAS VI, p. 9, No. 39, and Plate; 1883 Buфhler, ASWI V, p. 85 f., No. 28; Luders list 1020; ShG No 38; |
| - Fragment. A cave (lенa) and a water-cistern (pанiyapодhи), the gift of the nun (pavaиtikа) Sаpа (Sarpа), the daughter of the lay-worшipper (upаsaka) Kulapiya (Kulapriya) Dhamaнaka (Dharma), the Dhеnukаkaтiya (inhabitant of Dhеnukаkaтa), the female pupil (аtеvаsinи) of the elder (thеra) bhadata (bhadanta) Bоdhika, together with her sister Ratinikа and other relatives, to the congregation of monks (bhikhusagha) of the four quarters. Also endowment. |
TEXT.
1. Sidha[м] upаsakasa Dheнukаkaт[i]yasa kula[piyasa]
2. [Dha]maнakasa dh[u]tuya pavaСфtik[а]ya Sаpа[ya the]-
3. rанa bhadata Bodhikанa Ponakанo аtevаsini[ya]
4. leнa deyadhama pанiyapoдhi cha saha bhagi[niya]
5. Ratinikаya saha cha saveнa nаtisabadhi[vage]-
6. нa chаtudise bhikhusaghe atha Aparise
7. lesu patiтhаpita mаtupitaro udisa sava[satанa]
8. hitasughatha [||] bhikhusaghasa akhayanivi cha diна eto cha [bhikhu]
9. saghанa chivarika dаtava solasaka utukаle cha . . .
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L. 1. The letters 'kula' can be read. (ShG)
L. 3. The name Poнakisaна occurs in the inscription in Cave No. 54 (ShG). Buhler not
read.
L. 6. ASWI read aтhasu puris[esu]; Dikshit has correctly read the name of the saкgha as
- - - Aparisela, Indian Historical Quarterly Vol. XVIII, pl. 4. Dhenukаkaтa - is
Dhаnyakaтaka - in Andhra Pradesh, which is mentioned in Karle inscription. (ShG)