No. 3. Udayagiri cave (Maгchapurigumphа) inscription. Prakrit.
1837 Prinsep, JBAS VI, p. 1074, No. 6, and Pl. LIV; 1877 Cunningham, CII I, p. 33; 104,
No. 7; p. 136, No. 6, and Pl. XVII, 7; 1880 Rajendralala Mitra-Prinsep, Antiquities of
Orissa, Vol. II. p. 16, with facsimile; 1885 Bh. Indraji, Actes Six. Congr. Or. aй Leide,
Part III. Sect. II. p. 179, No. 3, and Pl.; Luders list No 1347; B.D. Banerji - EI.XIII,
No 13.2;
- The cave (lенa) of the noble (aira) mahаrаja, the lord (adhipati) of Kaliмga, Mahаmеghavаhana
Vakadеpa-siri (щrи-Vakradеva).
(BB.) Inscription in Manchapuri Cave-Lower Story, Front Wall.
A faint impression still lingers in the minds of men that a king named Aira is mentioned
in one of the inscriptions at Khandagiri. I believe this is the inscriptions which has
festered that impression. The first word of this inscriptioni was read Vеrasa by Prinsep
and Bhagwanlal, Dr. Luders reads it as airasa and translates it as 'noble'. Some scholars
have even gone so far as to assert that this word is the name of the king. I find that
there is no epigraphical record in the inscriptions in the Khandagiri and Udayagiri caves
in which a king named Aira is mentioned. The record is incised on a raised band between
the third and fourth doors from the left.
TEXT.
Kharasa Mahаrаjasa Kali[м]g-аdhipatinо Mahа[mеgha]vаha[nasa] Kудеpasиrиnо lенa[м]