The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.123

v1.c16.123

(3) *Bhagalpur grant.*—Discovered in Bhagalpur, in Bihar. Single plate written on both sides; 54 lines (front side 29 and back 26). The usual seal contains the legend *Śrī-Nārāyaṇapāladevāsya*. The inscription begins with a verse in praise of *Lokanātha Daśabala* (Buddha), then gives the genealogy of the Pālas from Gopāla to the donor. Verse 3 contains the famous passage about the relationship of Dharmapāla with Indrarāja and Cakrāyudha of Kanauj. From this inscription onwards Vākpāla and Jayapāla regularly appear in the genealogical tables of Pāla inscriptions, and the victories of Devapāla’s reign are ascribed to Jayapāla. The *Śāsana* was issued from the *Jayaskandhāvāra* at Mudgagiri, and records the grant of *Mukuṭikā-grāma* in *Kakṣa-Viṣaya* in *Tīra-Bhukti* (mod. Tirhut) by *Ps.-M.* *Vigrahapāladeva-pādānudhyāta* *P.-Pb-M.* Nārāyaṇapāladeva, to the temple of *Śiva-bhaṭṭāraka* and *Pāśupata-ācārya-pariṣad* at Kalaśapota. The gift was made in the 17th year of the king. In lines 38-39 the king boasts of having built 1,000 temples for the said Śiva in the same locality. The *Dūtaka* of the grant was *Bhaṭṭa* Gurava 'who knew the meaning of the idea of Brahman...was extremely well-read in all the *Śrutis* together with their *aṅgas*, and performed great *yajñas*.' The record was incised by Maṅkhadāsa, who is described as *Sat-Samaṭaṭa-janmā*. It is to be noticed that the title *Paramasaugata* does not occur here among the titles of the king.¹