The Antiquities of Orissa v2.c16.136

v2.c16.136

The next sentence begins with the word *ditiye*, 'in the second', then follow *cha*, 'and', and *vase*, 'in the year', i. e., in the second year of the prince's reign. Prinsep reads the last word *vāse*, "in the house". The difference arises from the fact of the word *vasa* being susceptible of very different interpretation, according as we take it for the Sanskrit *vāsa*, 'a dwelling', or, *vasa*, 'led on by', 'enthralled', or *varṣa* 'a year'. Prinsep says, "I have interpreted it in the latter sense wherever I found a numerical accompaniment". This doubtless is the safest rule to adopt, but he seems not to have abided by it so strictly as he intended. I have done so more scrupulously, as I have found it to clear out much that would otherwise be very ambiguous. In the present sentence, as there is no mention made of a first house, the second becomes inconsistent; whereas the first year's doings being fully described, the enumeration of those of the second year is quite natural. In subsequent parts we have the "next", "the fourth", "the fifth", "the seventh", "the thirteenth" years, following in regular succession. After the date come two words which Prinsep reads *āchitayitā sotakārim*, and renders them into "which the architect has prepared"; but such an epithet cannot be made to correspond with 'the western side', where 'he causes to be placed' *paṭiṭhāpayati*, Sanskrit *prasthāpayati*, *haya*, 'horses', *gaja*, 'elephants', *nara*, 'men', *radha*, Sanskrit *ratha*, 'war chariot', and *bahuladandin*, 'many staff bearers'. I take them to mean 'reflecting on his own interest', from the Sanskrit *āchintayitvā svotkāni*; the second word is very clearly *sotakani*. The succeeding word is *pachimadisaṃ*, 'to the west side'; Prinsep's reading of *dārin* for *dandin* is not supported by my cast. This enumeration shows clearly that the place on the western side was a fort, or a stronghold, or a pass, where danger was much apprehended, and a strong detachment of troops greatly needed. The first letter of the word *vahula* is doubful. Prinsep reads it *thahula*; it may be *sahula*, i. e., 'having pikes', or 'pronged staffs'.