Indian Epigraphy c11.t7.42

c11.t7.42

The privileges to be enjoyed by the donees are not exactly the same in the records of different ages and areas. But an idea may be formed from their specification in certain early and medieval records. Thus the Early Pallava grants speak of the following immunities (parihāra): ‘not to be dug for salt’ (a-lavaṇa-khātaka); ‘to be treated as different from other parts of the district’ (a-rāṣṭra-sāmvinayika); ‘free from the obligation of the supply of bullocks by the villages successively for royal officers on tour’ (a-paramparā-balivarda); ‘free from the entry of royal agents’ (a-bhaṭa-praveśa); ‘free from the obligation of supplying boiled rice, pots, fire-wood, cot and shelter to royal officers on tour’ (a-kūra-collaka-vināśi-khaṭvā-saṁvāsa); ‘free from the obligation of supplying milk and curds, grass and wood, and myrobalan, vegetables and flowers’ (a-dugdha-dadhi-grahaṇa, a-tṛṇa-kāṣṭha-grahaṇa, a-harītaka-śāka-puṣpa-grahaṇa); ‘free from the obligation of paying various levies, etc.’ (a-kara-viṣṭi-koñjalla); etc.³ The Vākāṭaka inscriptions similarly speak of: ‘free from payment of taxes’ (a-kara-dāyī); ‘free from the entry of royal agents’ (a-bhaṭa-cchātra-prāveśya); ‘free from the obligation of supplying flowers and milk’ (a-puṣpa-kṣīra-sandoha); ‘free from the obligation of supplying free passage (or, ferry), camping, hide-seats and charcoal’ (a-cār-āsana-carm-āngāra, a-pār-āsana°); ‘not to be dug for salt and other objects’ (a-lavaṇa-kliṇṇa-kreṇi-khanaka); ‘together with hidden treasure and deposits’ (sa-nidhi, s-opanidhi); ‘together with fixed and occasional taxes' (*sa-kḷpt-opakḷpta*); 'for so long as the moon and sun endure'; 'for transmission to sons and grandsons'; etc.¹ According to the charters of the Pālas, the privileges of the donees were: 'upto the boundaries, grass and pasture lands [of the gift village]' (*sva-sīmā-tṛṇayūti-gocara-paryanta*); 'with the ground' (*sa-tala*); 'with the space [above the ground]' (*s-oddeśa*); 'with the mango and *madhūka* trees' (*s-āmra-madhūka*); 'with the waters and dry land' (*sa-jala-sthala*); 'with the pits and saline spots' (*sa-gart-oṣara*); 'with the tax from temporary tenants, etc.' (*s-oparikara*); 'with the *daś-āpacāra* or *daś-āparādha* (i.e. fines realised for ten minor offences)'; 'with things recovered from thieves' (*sa-caur-oddharaṇa*); 'with exemptions from all oppressions'; 'not to be entered by *cāṭas* and *bhaṭas* (i.e. royal agents; probably, policemen and peons)'; 'nothing to be taken [by way of tax, etc.]'; 'together with all revenues such as *bhāga* (i.e. royal share of the produce), *bhoga* (i.e. periodical supply of fruits, etc.), *kara* (taxes), *hiraṇya* (tax to be paid in coins), etc.'; 'according to the maxim of *bhūmi-cchidra* (i. e. the custom of allowing one bringing a piece of fallow or jungle land under cultivation to enjoy it without paying rent)'; 'to last as long as the moon, the sun and the earth endure'.²