17. Srungavarapukîòa plates.
EI, XXIII, No.9, 56-61 (R. C. Majumdar); JAHRS, 8, pts. 2 & 3: 153-60 (M. Narasimham); IO, II, I, 35-39 (S.Rajaguru).

This is a set of three copper-plates, measuring 8 1/2 inches in length and 2 inches in breadth. The right half of the third plate is broken and missing. The outer faces of the first and third plates are blank, while the second plate bears writing on both the sides. The plates are strung on a ring, the ends of which are soldered to a circular seal bearing in relief the figure of a conch with some indistinct emblem inside it.
The plates were discovered at the village of Srungavarapukîòa, in the district of Vizagapatam (Madras). The cultivator who found them was under the impression that the metal was gold, so he broke the third plate, and had one piece melted by a goldsmith who, of course, declared it to be made of copper. Thus the remaining plates were left intact and secured by Dr. C. Narayana Rao, M.A., Ph.D. He gave them to Mr. M. Narasimham, who sold them to the Madras Museum where the plates are now preserved.
Mr. M. Narasimham edited the inscription in the Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society (Vol. VIII, pp. 153-160), with Photo-prints oí the plates. Unfortunately, his reading contains several errors, and many of his introductory remarks are either palpably wrong or open to serious objections.
I re-edit the inscription from ink-impressions kindly supplied by Dr. N. P. Chakravarti, the Government Epigraphist for India. (R.C.M):

TEXT

First Plate.

1 Îì Svasti[||*]Vijaya-Piøòapur-àdhiøòhànàn=mahè-maíäala-vyàpi-ùàrad-åndu-kara-nirmmala-guíasya
2 Dåvaràøtr-àdhipatår=anåka-samara-saêghaòòa-vijay-àdhigata-yaùasî Mahàràja-ùrè-Gu-
3 íavarmmaíaX parama-pautraõ ùakti-ttray-îpanata-ràjya-sampadî Vàsiøòha-kula-chandrama-
4 saõ ùrè-Mahàràja-Prabhajaìna-varmmaíaõ priya-puttras=sva-bala-vikkràm-îpàrjjita-bhór=nna-
5 ya-vinaya-sattva-sampann-àdhigata-yaùà dåva-dvijàti-guru-jan-ànuddhyàna-saì-

Second Plate; First Side.

6 varddhita-mahimà parama-màhåùvarî màtà-pitð-pàd-ànuddhyàtaõ Kaliêg-àdhipatiù=ùrè-
7 Mahàràj-Ànantàvarmmà Tållavalli-viøayå Kiíäåppa-gràmå sarvva-samavåtàn=kuòu-
8 mbinaõ samàjãàpayaty=asti åøa gràmî=¸smàbhir=Uttàràyaíå=¸smat-puíy-àbhivðddha-
9 yå åtasmai Kauùika-sa-gîttràya Taittiriya-sa-bramhachàriíå Achaíòapura-bhîgi-
10 ka-Màtðiùarmmaíå à-chandr-àrka-tàraka-pratiøòham=agrahàraì kðtvà sarvva-kara-bharaiõ

Second Plate; Second Side.

11 parihðtya sampradattas=tad=åvam=avadhðt-àjãair=bhavadbhis=tad-àjã-ànuvidhàyibhiX pratyaha-
12 m=upasthàtavyam [||*] Bràhmaíåna ch=àtmanî=¸grahàraõ puttra-pauttrikam=upabhujyamà-
13 nî na kaiùchid=vallabha-durllabhair=upahantavyaõ[||*] Àgàmibhir=api ràjarøi-
14 bhir=vðttam=anupàlayadbhir=yyath=àsya dharmma-prasavasy=àvichchhådåna pravð-
15 ttir=bhbhavati tath=ànuøòhåyaì åvaã=cha sati tatra tåøàm=api dharmmåí=àbhisamba-

Third Plate; First Side.

16 ndhas=smaryyatå || Bahubhir=vvasudhà dattà bahubhi[ù=ch=ànupàlità | yasya yasya yadà bhómis=ta-*]
17 sya tasya tadà phalaì [||*] Sva-dattàm=para-dattàì và yatnà[d=rakøa Yudhiøòhira | mahèì mahimatàì ùråøòha dàíà-*]
18 ch=chhråyî=¸nupàlanaì(m) [||*] Øaøòhiì varøa-sahasràíi svarggå [mîdati bhómidaõ | àkøåptà ch=ànumantà cha tà*]-
19 ny=åva narakå vasåt [||*] Pravarddhamànayà ràjya-ùriyà ràjava . . . . . . . . [tra*]
20 yîdaùyàm=Uttaràyaíå dharmma-pradànaì kðtam=iti bhó . . . . . . .