1836. J Facsimiles of ancient Inscriptions. 483 



inserted), it would appear that the seal was surmounted by three series 

 of figures, probably cast in bronze : viz. in the centre, Nandi the bull, 

 with a state chatta over him, and supporters on either side, bearing, the 

 one, a chatta and axe ; the other a sceptre and axe. 



The inscription, hitherto undecyphered, is at once seen to belong 

 to the old form of Deva-ndgari, now grown familiar to us ; and I am 

 indebted to the Rev. Dr. Mill, for the subjoined transcript in the 

 modern character, as well as for the translation of the text, and remarks 

 on the same. 



From the absence of a date it is not easy to assign a certain posi- 

 tion to the five distinct successions which it embraces ; though, from 

 the locality of the inscription in a fort of Khande'sh immediately south 

 of Mdlwd, as well as from the termination of the names in Varma, they 

 may be assigned with some probability to the Ujjayani dynasty ; where, 

 in the twelfth century, we find Naravarma, Yasuvarma, and three 

 other Varmas recorded as having reigned. No one of these names, 

 however, accords with any of the present list ; neither does the modern 

 Nagari of their inscriptions, of which Colonel Tod has published fac- 

 similes, at all resemble the seal character, which is evidently of a 

 much more ancient date. It is customary, also, in Hindu records of this 

 nature, to commence with the reputed ancestor of the race ; but we 

 find no allusion to Vicramaditya or Bhoja in the present instance, 

 and must either suppose our seal anterior to these illustrious person- 

 ages — or unconnected with Ujjayani. It is certainly possible that a 

 petty raja might have maintained independence for a few reigns in his 

 hill fort, claiming descent from the unknown Hari-varma ; but it is un- 

 likely that he should have assumed the lofty title of Mahdrdjadhiraja. 



The twice recorded matrimonial connection with the Gupta family 

 is also worthy of remark, as it may possibly have reference to the 

 Canouj dynasty, whose coins have lately excited so much interest. The 

 style of alphabet affords strong evidence of their contemporaniety. 



Transcript of the Asirgarh inscription in modern Deva-ndgari. 

 1 ■^^mSfTfa'WT'fJ^tffl: 3*rT'RT7pJ3lTq*T*n^T:T ; 5T: TTW5m3pfTgrT 



3 Tj^rfa(grf5snf?n5H?: ^TOWTrr^Kfaf^T^arsr: ^^rt^t^ 

 6 JT^TKTanfwsi ^.T.f^wr urn TT^frrerfSJTffrefo 



3 r 2 



