Indian Epigraphy c16.s5.18

c16.s5.18

The Basim plates³ of Vākāṭaka Vindhyaśakti II (end of the 4th century A.D.) mention the following Parihāras usually going with land granted to Brāhmaṇas learned in the four Vedas : a-rāṣṭra-sāṁvinayika, a-lavaṇa-klinna-khātaka, a-hiraṇya-dhānya-praṇaya-pradeya, a-puṣpa-kṣīra-grahaṇīya, a-paramparā-balivarda, a-vāra-siddhika, a-carm-āṅgāraka, a-bhaṭa-prāveśya, a-khaṭvā-cullaka-vaināsika, a-karada, a-vaha, sa-nidhi, s-opanidhi, sa-kṛta-prānta and sa-mañca-mahākaraṇa. It will be seen that, while the records discussed above refer directly to exemptions, the present epigraph mentions them together with certain previleges which involve exemptions. In a-lavaṇa-klinna-khātaka klinna seems to mean a moist substance like sugar which, as indicated above, were obtained by boring certain trees like the palmyra palm. It may be toddy, sugar, etc. A-hiraṇya-dhānya-praṇaya-pradeya refers to freedom from the obligation of payment of tax in cash and in crops and of occasional supplies of fruits, etc. A-puṣpa-kṣīra-grahaṇīya speaks of the obligation of supplying flowers and milk. A-vāra-siddhika seems to refer to the obligation of offering free labour in turn. A-carm-āṅgāraka indicates freedom from the obligation of supplying hide-seats and charcoal to the touring royal officers when they camped in a village. A-khaṭvā-cullaka-vaināśika is similar to a-kūra-cullaka-vināśi-khaṭvā-vāsa of the early Pallava grants. A-karada means that the village was exempted from payment of taxes and a-vaha refers to the obligation of supplying horses to or carrying loads of the touring officers. Sa-nidhi and s-opanidhi indicate the privilege of enjoying treasures hidden in the earth and deposits or finds on the soil, without surrendering them to the king. Sa-kṛta-prānta suggests that the gift village was granted together with its demarcated boundaries. Sa-mañca-mahākaraṇa may mean that the grant was made together with the platforms used for the collection of tolls and important records in the custody of the local officials.