1838.] Ancient Inscriptions. 1055 



VII. — Ancient Inscriptions. 



We have very little room in this number for the further prosecution 

 of the intention declared, of exhibiting in the pages of the Journal 

 transcripts of all the numerous inscriptions, of which copies and facsi- 

 miles have been transmitted to us. But that we may not fail altogether 

 to redeem the pledge thus given, we have selected some short ones. 



I. Captain J. S. Burt of Engineers, now stationed at Ghdzipur, 

 has been so fortunate as to discover a fallen pillar at Palladpur on the 

 banks of the Ganges in the Zaminea perguna, round the centre of 

 which is a short inscription in the No. 2 character. The shaft lies on 

 the ground, more than half buried, about six kos south of Ghazipur. 

 It is described by Captain Burt as a perfect cylinder of three feet 

 diameter, polished and rounded for a length of twenty- seven feet, and 

 with a rough base of nine feet, the whole length being thirty-six feet. 

 Round the centre is an inscription of a single perfect si oka, to read 

 which completely Captain B. was compelled to cause a trench to be 

 dug underneath the shaft of the column. The sloka as read and ex- 

 plained by Kamalakanta is as follows : 



Tt fkv^ fa^re ^ffl" J ^*r x*& xtt^t: *rcrcr^facT mv s 



" Great, victorious, of high renown, the promoter of the virtue of 

 Kshatris, always like the sons of Kunti (Yudishthira, &c), pro- 

 tector of many kings, for the honoring of his father's memory practis- 

 ing many virtues, in his actions and conduct truly a fifth Lokpal 

 divinity." 



From the manner in which the sloka ends with " Lokpal," it is sur- 

 mised that that must be the name of the sovereign in whose honor the 

 inscription was written, but there is no date or other means of identify- 

 ing it. The pillar is well worthy of the examination of the curious. 



II. In closing this series of the journal, our acknowledgments are 

 due to the more than common zeal, with which Captain Burt has col- 

 lected, and the care with which he has made the facsimiles of a great 

 variety of inscriptions. One valuable one containing the names of several 

 new rajas was obtained by him from the vicinity of Chatarpur in 

 Bandelkhand, and we hoped to have been able, with the assistance of the 

 Rev. Mr. Malan, to have given its translation in the past month ; but 

 the failure of that gentleman's eyes has compelled its transfer to other 

 hands, and it remains to enrich the new series of the journal. 



