1839.] Account of Tamba Patra Plates found at Baroda. 303 



Let none obstruct his (Bha'nu's) enjoying, or letting others enjoy it ; 

 or his ploughing, or letting others plough. After this, let future Rajas 

 of our race, or of any other race, reflect that wealth and life are unstable 

 as lightning, and fickle as water in the leaf of water lilies, and so let 

 them respect this our grant, and confirm the grantees in possession. He 

 only whose mind is blackened by the darkness of ignorance will resume, 

 or be pleased at seeing others molest its possessor, reckless of the guilt 

 of the five deadly sins and other heinous crimes, as described at length 

 by Ve'davya'sa. 



He who grants lands lives 60,000 years in heaven, but he who con- 

 fiscates or resumes, or allows others to do so, is doomed to hell for a like 

 period. 



Those who resume lands granted by others will become black serpents 

 in the dry holes of the forest of the Vindhya mountain. 



Gold is the first offspring of fire, and the earth the wife of Vishnu, 

 and cows are the daughters of the sun. He who grants these things 

 gives also the three regions. 



The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, as the Sa'gara Raja and 

 others, and he who rules it in his turn, is the sole enjoyer of its fruits. 



But what generous man will take again the grants made by Rajas 

 who have gone before him, and whose gifts are like wreaths of flowers, 

 spreading the fragrance of a good name, and of the reputation for 

 wealth and virtue. 



Oh ye virtuous kings, respect the grants of lands (given by 

 others), for to preserve their grants is better than a fresh donation. 



Men whose minds are cleared from sin, considering life and wealth 

 fickle as water in the leaf of the water lily, will never destroy the fame 

 of others. 



It is further said by Ra'm Bhadra — You who are the best of Rajas, 

 are hereby repeatedly prayed by Ra'm Chandra to preserve this bridge 

 of virtue for ever. 



Confirmed by the counter-signature of the presumptive heir and 

 brother of the king, Danti Varma, and signed with the autograph of 

 myself the Karka Raja, son of Indra Raja, and prepared and engrossed 

 by the hereditary servant of the king for peace and war, Nunaditya, 

 sonofDuRGA Bhatta. For the good of my father and his ancestors have 

 I made this grant to the Brahman Bha'nu', who has served my family 

 with his prayers for many years. May he enjoy the grant, and profit by it ! 



N.B. There are several counter-signatures, apparently autographs, in the last four 

 lines of the last plate, which besides that they are of doubtful reading, it would be of 

 little interest to transcribe. On the outside are the words "'Tis for the good of my 

 father and mother." 



