38 I

This is an inscription in three lines. The preservation of the writing is fairly satisfactory, though a few letters are damaged at the end of the second line.
The record states that the pillar on which it is engraved was the chhаyа-stambha of the dead soldiers who had enjoyed the favour of Raтhika Bhata (probably Sanskrit Bhakta) who was an inhabitaut of Magalaraнa. The word raтhika stands for Sanskrit rаштrika meaning 'the governor of a rаштra (i.e. a small territorial unit of a kingdom)'. The Rаштrika mentioned in our record was apparently the subordinate of an Ikшvаku king.

TEXT

1 Maga[la]raнa-vathavasa
2 raтhikasa Bhatasa pа[sa] . . . . . . . . . .
3 bhaдaнa[м] padita[na]м chhаyа-tha[bho] [||*]
___________________________
From impressions. It is A. R. Ep., 1956-57. No B 34.
L. 2. The intended word seems to be pasаditаnaм (Sanskrit prasаditаnаm).