CONTAINING SANSCRIT INSCRIPTIONS. 423 



an unperishable abode; for the confirmation of ano- 

 ther's donation is twice as meritorious asa^ift made by 

 himself; and his own munificence is rendered fruitless 

 by resumption of another's grants. He, who resumes 

 land, whether bestowed by himself or by another, is 

 born an insect in ordure for sixty t'^ousand years. In 

 this world is only one sister of all kings, namely land, 

 which has been conferred on priests * : shp must not 

 be enjoyed nor espoused -I". This general maxim of 

 duty for kings, should be strictly observed by you in all 

 times : so Ramachandra earnestly conjures all future 

 sovereigns J.' 



* S'ri Kirupdcsha ; or the auspicious deity with un- 

 even eyes '^Z 



* The terms mny signify " fully granted away, cr properly be-j 

 stowed." 



■\ In mythology, as well as In figurative language, the earth is 

 wife of the sovereign. Witli .in allusion to this idea, land, which 

 has been granted away, is iiere called the king's sister: and his 

 seizure of such land is pronounced incestuous. 



The expression, which has been translated espoused, (cara^rahya, 

 literally, to be taken by the hai:<l), will also signify subjected to 

 taxation : for cara signities tax as well as hand, 



J This appears to be a quotation from some poem (a Purd/ia or 

 Ra7najanaJ. The whole of the concluding part of the inscription 

 (comprised in live stanzas) seems to b<^ the same with the cloje of 

 grant on plates of copper preserved at Covjeveravi. Sec As. ilce, 

 vol. 3. p. 53, 



^ This ^i^nature is in Cdnara letters, 



E 4 



