Siwani Copper Plate Inscription of the Maharaja Pravarasena II

A charter of king Pravaras na, the
ornament of the V k takas, who has
attained royal dignity by inheritance, (is) a
charter for (the observance of even his)
enemies.

        Sight has been attained! Perfection has been attained!-(Line 17.)-At the command of the Mah r ja, the illustrious Pravaras na (II.), who follows the path of imitating the behaviour of previous kings; who has extirpated all enemies by (his) excellent policy and strength and prowess; who was begotten on Prabh vatigupt , the daughter of the Mah r j dhir ja, the glorious D vagupta; who, through possessing the favour of (the god) Shambhu, is (as virtuous as) one belonging to the Krita age; who is the ornament of the lineage of the V k takas;-

        (Line 12.)-(And) who is the son of the Mah r ja of the V k takas, the illustrious Rudras na (II.), who acquired an abundance of good fortune through the favour of the divine (god) Chakrap ni;-

        (L. 8.)-Who was the son of the Mah r ja of the V k takas, the illustrious Prithivish na, who was an excessively devout worshipper of (the god) Mah shvara; who was possessed of an excess of truthfulness, straightforwardness, tenderness, heroism, prowess, political wisdom, modesty, and high-mindedness, and with devotion to worthy people and guests, and with the condition of being victorious through religion, and with purity of mind, and with other meritorious qualities; who belonged to an uninterrupted succession of sons and sons  sons, whose treasure and means of government had been accumulation for a hundred years; who behaved like Yudhisthira;-

        (L.3.)-Who was the son of the Mah r ja of the V k takas, the illustrious Rudras na (I.), who was an excessively devout devotee of (the god) Sv mi-Mah bhairava, who was the daughter s son of the illustrious Bhavan ga, the Mah r ja of the Bh rashivas, whose royal line owed its origin to the great satisfaction of (the god) Shiva, (caused) by (their) carrying a linga of Shiva placed as a load upon (their) shoulders, (and who were besprinkled on the forehead with the pure water of (the river) Bh g rath  that had been obtained by (their) valour, (and) who performed ablutions after the celebration of ten ashvam dha-sacrifices;-who was the son of Gautamiputra;-

        (L. 1.)-(And) who was the son of the son of the Mah r ja of the sovereign V k takas, the illustrious Pravaras na (I.), who celebrated the agnisht ma, apt ry ma, ukthya, sh dashin,  tir tra, v jap ya, brihaspatisava, and s deyaskra sacrifices, and four ashvam dha-sacrifices, (and) was of the Vishnuvriddha g tra;-

        (L. 17.)-In the Benn k rpara bh ga,-in the eighteenth year of the augmenting reign; on the twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight of (the month) Ph lguna,-the village named Brahmap raka,-(which), according to the specification of its boundaries (is) on the bank of the (river) Kara javiraka, on the north of (the village of) Vatap raka, on the west of (the village of) Kinihikh taka, on the south of (the village of ) Pavarajjav taka, (and) on the east of (the village of) Kollap raka,-is given, with libations of water, together with the korata and the fifty (hamlets?), to the Adhvaryu, the  ch rya D vasharman, of the Maudgalya g tra, (and) of the Taittir ya (sh kh ).

        (L. 23.)-In this matter, Our obedient and high-born officers, employed in the office of general superintendents, and (Our) regular soldiers and umbrella-bearers, should be (thus) directed with a command preceded by (the words)  O illustrious one:  - "Be it known to you, that, in order to increase Our own religion and life and strength and victory and dominion, (and) for the sake of (Our) welfare in this world and in the next, (and generally) for Our benefit, this (village) [is granted] in (Our) victorious office of justice.

        (L.27.)-"It is not to be entered by the regular troops or by the umbrella-bearers; it does not carry with it (the right to) cows and bulls in succession (of production), or to the abundance of flowers and milk, or to the pasturage, hides, and charcoal, or to the mines for the purchase of salt in a moist state; it is entirely free from all (obligation of) forced labour; it carries with it the hidden treasures and deposits, and the klripta and upaklripta; it is (to be enjoyed) for the same time with the moon and the sun; (and) it is to follow (the succession of) sons and sons  sons. The enjoyment of it should not be obstructed by any one. It should be protected and increased by all ( possible) means. And whosoever, disregarding Our charter, shall give, or cause to be given, even slight vexation, We will inflict on him, or will cause to be inflicted, punishment, together with a fine, when he is denounced by the Br hmans."

        (L. 35.)-(This charter) has been written by the  ch rya, while B ppad va is the S n pati.

        (L. 35.)-And in this subject-matter of religion,-in order to avoid boasting of (other) meritorious actions performed (by Us),-We do not recite the religious merit acquired by (Our) care and protection of grants made by various kings who are dead and gone. (But), out of respect for those who shall be pre-eminent in times to come, We make a request ( for protection of the grant) to future (kings).

        (L. 38.)-And two verses, sung by Vy sa, are to be taken as an authority on this point: - 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! Whosoever confiscates land that has been given, whether by himself, or by another, he incurs the guilt of the slayer of a hundred thousand cows!

From: Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 247-249.