Indian Epigraphy c16.s5.41

c16.s5.41

In the copper-plate grants of the Pālas of Eastern India, we have usually the following specifications: “up to its boundaries, grass and pasture land (*sva-sīmā-tṛṇayūti*¹-*gocara-paryanta*); with its ground (*sa-tala*); with the space above the ground (*s-oddeśa*); with its mango and *madhūka* trees (*s-āmra-madhūka*); with its waters and dry land; with its pits and saline spots or barren lands (*sa-gart-oṣara*); with the tax from temporary tenants (*s-oparikara*); with *daśāpacāra* or *daśāparādha* (*sa-daś-āparādha*, *sa-daś-āpcāra*; power to punish and realise fines for the ten offences); with fines realised from thieves (*sa-caur-oddharaṇa*); with exemptions from all oppressions (*parihṛta-sarva-pīḍa*); not to be entered by the Cāṭas and Bhaṭas (*a-cāṭa-bhaṭa-praveśa*); nothing to be taken [by way of tax, etc.] (*a-kiñcit-pragrāhya*); together with all imposts such as *bhāga*, *bhoga*, *kara*, *hiraṇya*, etc. (*samasta-bhāga-bhoga-kara-hiraṇy-ādi-pratyāya-sameta*); according to the maxim of *Bhūmi-cchidra* (*bhūmi-cchidra-nyāyena*); to last as long as a time as the moon, the sun and the earth shall endure (*ā-candr-ārka-kṣiti-sama-kālam*).”² The *Bhūmi-cchidra-nyāya* referred to here is mentioned in a large number of records. It speaks of the old custom, according to which a person who brings a piece of fallow or jungle land under cultivation for the first time was allowed to enjoy it without paying rent. The custom was based on the principle that the hunted deer belonged to him who hit it first.³ The word *chidra* in this case seems to have originally referred to the furrowing of the land. Gradually however the expression *bhūmi-cchidra* acquired the meaning of ‘uncultivable (kṛṣy-ayogyā land’, and that is why some early medieval inscriptions from Orissa, e.g. the charters of the Bhauma-Karas, speak of the same maxim as *Bhūmi-cchidra-pidhāna-nyāya* literally ‘the maxim of covering up the hole in the land’, probably referring to the reclamation of fallow land for the first time.¹ These Orissan records usually speak of the grant of land together with the *uddeśa* (space above the ground called *tala*), with the tenants such as the weavers, milkmen (*gokuṭa* or *gauḍa*) and vintners (*sauṇḍika*) and with the *gulmakas* (outposts) at the *kheṭa* (village or hamlet), *ghaṭṭa* (harbour or pass) and *naditara-sthāna* (ferry).²