Indian Palaeography c15.s4.18

c15.s4.18

(*c*) Pl. XII. 5 is taken from the inscription from Shorkot in the Punjab, dated in the (Gupta) year 83. The place where it was found is identified with the city of Śibinagara. The inscription is engraved on a metal bowl. The writing shows an individualistic style in adding looped ends to the bottom of the long verticals, as in *ka*, *ra*, *śa* and medial *u*. Another special feature is seen in the head-mark, which is a hollow triangle. If these individualistic mannerisms are set aside, the forms of the letters fit the style of the early fifth century A.D. Here the medial *ā* is a horizontal line, but the medial *i* curls its upper end, as in the Mehrauli inscription, where the sign is modified to fit the angular style. The medial *o* follows the Kushāṇa style. The cross bar of *ka* is angular. In conjuncts such as *kla* and *kshu*, *ka* resembles an *x* with a top mark because of the combination of this angle and the head-mark. *Gha* has a slightly inclined but straight base. *Cha* is of the beaked type. The arms of *ta* meet in a curve. *Tha*, as seen in the conjunct *tthā*, is oval with the mid-line curved, a form also known from Central India. *Da* is of the double curved type. *Ḍha* is of the bulged form. The curved base of *na* is angular. The angularity is also marked in the form of *pa*, both of whose uprights have hollow triangular heads. The left side of *ba* is curved. *Bha* and *śa* have their right limbs longer than their left. *Ma* is of the open-mouthed type with a curve at the left angle, as is seen in the Kumāra Gupta inscriptions.¹ *Sa* is of the hooked type. The hollow triangular head-mark and the habit of giving curved tips suggest that the writer may have come from Central India. The form of *tha* lends support to this conclusion.