Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c21.s9.11

c21.s9.11

Mahalingam's interpretations, even when the readings are clear, lack plausibility in many cases. For example, he segments *koṭupitavaṉ* (LT *koṭuppittavaṉ* 'he who caused to be given') as *kōṭu* 'hill' and *pitavāṉ*, linking the latter to Skt. *pitā* 'father'; ⁷ he reads *poṉ* 'gold' for which he suggests the alternative meanings of 'Mount Mēru' or 'trap' or 'cavern'; ⁸ he reads *ita* and interprets it as 'Indra'; ⁹ the personal name *ātaṉ* is derived from Skt. *āpta* and interpreted as "a holy person belonging to the Ājīvika faith"; ¹⁰ in none of these cases, the suggested interpretations fit the context.