Indian Epigraphy c16.s5.9

c16.s5.9

Some charters⁶ of the Śātavāhana king Gautamīputra Śātakarṇi (c. 106-30 A.D.) records grants of land together with all the Parihāras (exemptions to be enjoyed by the donees) including the following : a-prāveśya (i.e. freedom from the entry of royal agents), anāvamaryā (i.e. freedom from troubles associated with the visit of royal agents), a-lavaṇa-khātaka (i.e. freedom from the land being dug out or the trees being pierced for salt) and a-rāṣṭra-sāmvinayika (i.e. freedom from the administrative control to which the district was subject). The king’s officers in charge of administration of the area in which the gift land was situated were instructed to exempt the land with all the usual exemptions including the above. There are also references to the grant of a village together with kara (tax) and utkara (probably, minor tax) and with deya (periodical offerings to be offered to the king) and meya (the king’s share of grains) or with the renunciation of all kinds of the rights of the king (sarvajāta-bhoga-nirasta) in the Śātavāhana records.¹