The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c16.97

v1.c16.97

(2) *Nālandā grant.*—Unearthed at Nālandā in 1921. Single plate : 42 lines (obverse), and 24 lines (reverse). The seal is the same as in the Monghyr grant. The introductory portion (first 25 lines) is identical with the same portion of the Monghyr plate. This record was also issued from Mudgagiri, but is posterior to the other record by six years, being dated in year 39. Genealogy same as in the Monghyr grant. It records that Devapāladeva, at the request of *Suvarṇadvīpādhipati Mahārāja-Śrī-V(B)ālaputradeva*, granted five villages, four of which lay in Rājagṛha-*Viṣaya* of Śrīnagara-*Bhukti* while the other lay in Gayā-*Viṣaya*. The grant was made for the upkeep of the monastery built at Nālandā by the said king of Suvarṇadvīpa (Sumatra ?). The endowment is entirely Buddhist. The 2nd side of the plate introduces the *Dūtaka* of the grant, who is referred to as *Dharmādhikāre'smin*.² Śrī-V(B)alavarmā-Vyāghrataṭī-*Maṇḍalādhipati*.³ Then follows an account of Bālaputradeva. We are told that there was a king of Yava-bhūmi who was a *Śailendra-vaṁśatilaka*. He had a son. As Paulomī was to Indra, so was Tārā the *agramahiṣī* to this son. Tārā was the daughter of the great ruler Dharmasetu (Varmasetu ?) of the lunar race (*Rājñaḥ Soma-kulānvayasya* *mahataḥ Dharmasetoḥ*). As the son of Suddhodana was born of Māyā, so was born of her the illustrious Bālaputra. Having realised the transitoriness of wealth and attracted by the excellences of Nālandā he built a *vihāra* in that place. Though the inscription is Buddhist, it is significant that in the last verse a hope is expressed for the continuance of the grant in the following words: "as long as the Ganges has her limbs agitated by the extensive plaited hair of Hara,"'—etc.¹