306 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. |June, 1911. 
sion. The second part of the question is far more difficult than 
the first. I believe that the time for the assignation of these 
dates has not arrived as yet. Though these three dates form a 
regular series, yet it is by no means certain that they belong to 
the same period or to a particular era. On the contrary, I 
believe that they are separate regnal years and have no connec- 
in that charge till the year 19 in the reign of Gopacandra. If 
these dates form a continual series the reign of Samacaradeva 
must fall between that of Dharmmaditya and Gopacandra. 
But we find another governor for Navyavakasika in the year 
14, so it is evident that the dates are regnal years. The forger 
of these grants I believe had no idea of forming a consecutive 
line of Kings. Dr. Hoernle’s identification of the Emperor 
Dharmmaditya with Yasodharmman is purely tentative and 
has no basis. Similarly his identification of Gopacandra with 
Prince Govicandra or Gopicandra of Northern Bengal tradition 
is also tentative. There is absolutely no ground for this sug- 
gestion save the similarity in names. 
(VI) Tue Importance OF THE GRANTS. 
Finally the four plates—forged as they are—yield some 
valuable material for the construction of the History of Bengal 
during the dark period from the death of Harsavardhana to the 
rise of the Palas of Bengal. This period has now been short- 
ened by the researches of the late Dr. Kielhorn and Mahamaho- 
padhaya Haraprasad Sastri. Synchronisms and slight mention 
have now enabled us to state definitely that the Pala empire 
rose in the middle of the 8th century A.D. and that the date 
of its rise must fall before the Gurjara conquest of Kanavj.' 
It is now definitely settled that the initial year of Dharmma- 
paia’s reign falls between 783 and 817 A.D.; so this dark period 
extends from 672 to 783 A.D. or a little over a century. The 
Guptas of Magadha survived the transitory glory of the Sthan- 
visvara Kings. Of this line we have the definite date 672 A.D. 
for Adityasena,’ and the genealogy is carried three generations 
further downward by the Deo-Banarak (Deva-Varanarka) 
Inscription of Jivitagupta II.2 For this period extending from 
672 to 738 A.D. we have no definite data and the material sup- 
plied by the four copperplate grants comes in very handy. 
The most important fact is the use of genuine seals of the 
officials of the Gupta empire. As I have noticed above Dr. 
Bloch has already stated that the officials of the Gupta empire 
1 Memoirs A.8.B., vol. iii, No. I, pp. 3-4. 
2 Fleet’s re Inscriptions, p- 310. 
*> p- . 
