The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.116.1

v2.c16.116.1

This line comprises two sentences: the first, a salutation and the next the main object of the record. The former comprises four words, all in excellent preservation and of unmistakable import; the words are: *namo arihantānam namo sava sidhānam.* The only doubtful letter is the *ri* of the second word. In Prinsep's facsimile it appears like *rā*, but he takes it in his transcript to be *ra* with a short vowel, but in the plaster cast the mark on the top of the *r*, though very faint, is like an *i*. In the former case, the word should be accepted as the dative plural, which in Pali is the same as the genitive plural of the Sanskrit *arhat*. The meaning of the first two words would be ‘salutation’ (*namo*) ‘to the *arhats*,’ or sages who have attained the rank of *arhats*; or taking the plural to be simply honorific, “salutation to *the arhat*,” or Buddha. If we accept the vowel-mark to be an *i*, the salutation may be directed to those who have destroyed or overcome (*hanti*) their enemies or carnal passions (*ari*), or the enemy of mankind,;which, is typified by Māra or lust.