1897.] Dr. Hoernle— Gauhati Copper-plate Grant of Indrapala. 117 
Ratnapala, and his great-grandfather Brahmapala. Purandarapala,, 
however, appears to have died during the reign of Ratnapala, the latter 
being succeeded directly by his grandson Indrapala. This is quite 
clear from the recital in the actual grant (see 2nd plate, reverse, lines 4 
and 5) ; but the circumstance would seem to have been fully explained 
in the 17th verse which unfortunately is mutilated beyond restoration. 
The death of the father (Purandarapala) and the transmission of the 
throne to the grandchild (Indrapala) is, however, indicated in the 
existing remains of the verse. 
Beyond Brahmapala the ancestry is carried, in direct line, though 
after an undefined interval, through Vajradatta and Bhagadatta to 
Naraka, who would seem (in verse 6j to be indicated as the founder of 
the town of Pragjyotisa. Naraka is said to have been the son of the 
god Hari, by the goddess Earth. 6 
The total ancestry, accordingly stands thus :— 
1, Hari. 
2, Naraka, founder of Pragjyotisa, son of No. 1. 
3, Bhagadatta, son of No. 2. 
4, Yajradatta, son of No. 3. 
5, Undefined interval. 
6, Brahmapala of the line of No. 4. 
7, Ratnapala, son of No. 6. 
8, Purandarapala, son of No. 7 (died as prince). 
9, Indrapala, son of No. 8 (succeeded his grandfather Ratna¬ 
pala). 
The first two names on this list are those of well-known mythical 
personages. The third and fourth may have some claim to be regarded 
as having a historical existence. Vajradatta is said to have belonged 
(v. 8) to the Kaumra dynasty. No dynasty of this name is otherwise 
known. Mr. E. A. Gait, who is the best authority on old Asam 
history, writes to me : 
“ I do not know anything about the Kaumra dynasty, mentioned in verse 8. 
The name does not occur in any Buranji, PuthI, or tradition with which I am 
acquainted. Might not the reading be Kaumdra ? The ruler of the country when 
Hiuen Tsiang visited it, was Kumara Bhaskara Yarma." 
The reading is certainly Kaumra , not Kaumdra, though as the 
grant is full of errors of spelling, it is not impossible that the correct 
name should be KaumdraJ Mr. Gait’s suggestion has a certain plausi¬ 
bility. The date of Hiuen Tsiang’s visit is 640 A.D. The date of our 
grant is about the middle of the 11th century (c. 1050 A.D.), and, 
® In this the copper-plate grants follow the Ydgini Tantra. 
I Kaumdra, however, would not fit the metre. 
J. i. 16 
