1058 Inscriptions on the columns at Delhi, %c. [Dec. 



sort espoused after his accession, Asandhimitta', who was zealously 

 devoted to Buddhism, died ; and three years thereafter he married his 

 second wife. He reigned 37 years. 



The five short insulated lines at the foot of the Allahabad pillar, 

 having reference to this second empress, is, by its position in the 

 column, a signal evidence of the authenticity, and mutual corrobora- 

 tion of these inscriptions and the Pdli annals. As Dhanma'so'ko 

 married her in the 34th year of his reign, she could not have been 

 noticed in the body of the inscriptions which were recorded on the 

 27th. I fear we do not yet possess a correct transcript of these five 

 lines*. The passage in the Mahdwanso which refers to this queen is 

 curious, and may hereafter assist the correct translation of these five 

 lines. I therefore insert it. 



1 AUhdrasdhi wassamhi Dhammdsokassa Rdjino 

 Mahdmegha-wandrdme mahdbodhi patitthahi. 



2 Tato dw&dasame wasse mahesi tassa rdjino 

 piyd Asandhimitld sd mdtd Sambuddhamdmikd. 



3 Tato chatutthawassamhi, Dhammdsoko mahipati 

 tassdrakkhan mahesitte thapesi wosamd saydn, 



4 Tatotu totiye wasse sdbdldrupamdnini 



" maydpichaaydn rdjd mahdbodhin mamdyati" 



5 Hi kodhawasdn gantwd, attanotattha kdrikd 

 mandukaniakayogena mahdbddhimaghdtayi. 



6 Tato chatutthe wassamhi Dhammdsoko mahdyaso 



anichchatdivasampattd : sattatinsosamd imd. 

 11 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Dhamma's6ko, the bo-tree was planted 

 in the Mahdmegawano' s pleasure garden, (at Anurddhapura) . In the twelfth year 

 from that period, the beloved wife of that monarch, Asandhimitta', who had 

 identified herself with the faith of Buddho, died. In the fourth year (from her 

 demise), the raja Dhamma'so'ko, under the influence of carnal passions, raised 

 to the dignity of queen consort, an attendant of her's (his former wife's). In 

 the third year from that date, this malicious and vain creature who thought 

 only of the charms of her own person, saying, " this king, neglecting me, la- 

 vishes his devotion exclusively on the bo-tree," — in her rage (attempted to) 

 destroy the great bo with the poisoned fang of a toad. In the fourth year from 

 that occurrence, this highly gifted monarch, Dhamma'so'ko, fulfilled the lot of 

 mortality. These years collectively amount to thirty-seven." 



I have not had time to examine the fifth inscription round the 

 Delhi column carefully, and I apprehend that the transcript is not al- 

 together perfect yet. The last line and half of this inscription, I 

 should be disposed to read thus : 



" E'tdn Ddwdnanpiya aha ; ' iydn dhanmalibi ata a^hasildthambdni, WisaliU 

 tha-lckhdaiwa tata kaittawiyd : ena esa chirathikasiya." In the Pdli considered 



* See page %'6 which had not reached the author when the above was writ- 

 ten. — Ed. 



