Indian Epigraphy c16.s6.56

c16.s6.56

It may be pointed out that, in ancient Bengal, sometimes *Droṇa* (*Droṇavāpa*) and *Ādhavāpa* were each regarded as the standard land-measure like the *Kulya* (*Kulyavāpa*) in the above record of Vigrahapāla III and in the other inscriptions referred to before. The Govindapur plate⁵ of Lakṣmaṇasena (1179-1206 A.D.) gives the measurement of the gift land as 60 *Droṇas* and 17 *Unmānas*. It will be seen that 60 *Droṇas* would make 7 *Kulyas* and 4 *Droṇas*, or 7 1/2 *Kulyas*. The Tarpandighi plate⁶ of the same king speaks of a piece of land measuring 120 *Ādhavāpas* and 5 *Unmānas*. Now 120 *Ādha*- vāpas were actually equal to 30 Droṇas (Droṇavāpas), or 3 Kulyas (Kulyavāpas) and 6 Droṇas (Droṇavāpas). It is interesting to note that even the Unmāna, which is mentioned in these records as a subdivision of the Āḍhavāpa, is referred to as the standard land measure in the Vaṅgīya Sāhitya Pariṣad plate of Viśvarūpasena. In line 59 of this record,² the word unmāna has been used as a synonym of udāna which is mentioned in numerous places. Apparently the same Unmāna = Udāna is mentioned in the Amgachhi and Belwa plates referred to above as Udamāna.