Maharaja Samkshobha

Khoh Copper-plate Inscription of the Maharaja Samkshobha (528-529 CE)

• Ôm! Reverence to the divine (god) Vâsudêva! Hail! In two centuries of years, increased by nine; in the enjoyment of sovereignty by the Gupta kings; in the glorious augmenting and victorious reign; in the Mahâ-Ashvayuja samvatsara; on the thirteenth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month Chaitra,— on this (lunar day), (specified) as above by the samvatsara and month and day,—

• (Line 3.)— By the Mahârâja, the illustrious Samkshôbha,— who is born in the family of the kingly ascetic Susharman, who had learned the whole truth of the fourteen sections of science; who was a great sage, (being) indeed (an incarnation of) Kapila; who knew all the first principles; (and) who was of the Bharadvâja gôtra;— who is the great-grandson of the son of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Dêvâdhya;— who is the great-grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Prabhañjana;— who is the grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Dâmôdara;— who is the son of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Hastin, who was the giver of thousands of cows, and elephants, and horses, and gold, and many lands; who was earnest in paying respect to (his) spiritual preceptor and (his) father and mother; who was extremely devoted to the gods and Brâhmans; who was victorious in many hundreds of battles; who sought to govern properly the kingdom of Dabhâlâ, which had come (to him) by inheritance, together with (all the country) included in the eighteen forest kingdoms; (and) whose fame was renowned through many good qualities;— who is intent upon establishing the religious duties of the castes and the different periods of life;— who is a most devout worshipper of the Divine One;— who is extremely devoted to (his) ancestors;— (and) who causes the happiness of his own race,—

• (L. 11.)—(By him),— for the purpose of increasing the religious merit of (his) parents and of himself,— at the request of Chhôdugômin, and (with the object of) causing him to ascend the steps of the ladder that leads to heaven,— half of the village of Ôpâni, in the Maninâga pêtha, is granted by a copper-charter, with the exception of (the right to fines imposed on) thieves and mischief-doers, for the purpose of observing the bali, charu, and sattra, at the temple, which (he) has caused to be built, of the divine (goddess) Pishtapurî, and for the purpose of renewing whatever may become broken or torn.

• (L. 15.)— Therefore, even in future times, no obstacle (to the enjoyment of this grant) is to be caused by those who are born in

Our family, or by my feudatories. This injunction having been given, he who behaves otherwise,— him I will consume with a great contempt, even when I have passed into another body.

• (L. 18.)— And it has been said by the venerable supreme sage, Vyâsa, the arranger of the Vêdas,—" O Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has previously been given to the twice-born; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant! The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents to (an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell! (There is) no gift better than a gift of land, and the preservation (of a grant) (is) better than making a grant; all kings, commencing with Nriga, have attained heaven (by) preserving land that had been granted!"

• (L. 23.)— And (this charter) has been written by Îshvaradâsa, the grandson of Jîvita, (and) the son of Bhujamgadâsa. The order (is that) of his own mouth. (The month) Chaitra; the day 20 (and) 9.

External links

• http://projectsouthasia.sdstate.edu/docs/history/primarydocs/Epigraphy/Gupta-Era/