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Mahasthana Inscription: Difference between revisions
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The Mahasthangarh inscription, engraved on a semi-circular limestone in Brahmi script, dates to the 3rd century BCE and is the earliest epigraphic record in Bengal, specifically in Mahasthan, Bogra District, Bangladesh.<ref name="SH"/><ref>Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–60.</ref> A 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm limestone slab bearing six lines in [[Prakrit]] in [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] script, discovered accidentally by a day labourer in 1931 was an important find. The text appears to be a royal order of Magadh, possibly during the rule of [[Asoka]]. It dates the antiquity of Mahasthangarh to 3rd century BC.<ref name = "Hossain 3">Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–65.</ref> | The Mahasthangarh inscription, engraved on a semi-circular limestone in Brahmi script, dates to the 3rd century BCE and is the earliest epigraphic record in Bengal, specifically in Mahasthan, Bogra District, Bangladesh.<ref name="SH"/><ref>Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–60.</ref> A 4.4 cm x 5.7 cm limestone slab bearing six lines in [[Prakrit]] in [[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] script, discovered accidentally by a day labourer in 1931 was an important find. The text appears to be a royal order of Magadh, possibly during the rule of [[Asoka]]. It dates the antiquity of Mahasthangarh to 3rd century BC.<ref name = "Hossain 3">Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 56–65.</ref> | ||
Mahasthangarh is the earliest urban archaeological sites discovered thus far in [[Bangladesh]]. The village Mahasthan in [[Shibganj Upazila, Bogra|Shibganj upazila]] of [[Bogra District]] contains the remains of an ancient city which was called [[Pundranagar]]a or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of [[Pundravardhana]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hossain |first=Md. Mosharraf |year=2006 |chapter=Preface |title=Mahasthan: Anecdote to History |location=Dhaka |publisher=Dibyaprakash |isbn=978-984-483-245-9 |quote=Mahasthan is the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in the present territory of ... Bangladesh}}</ref><ref name = "Brochure">Brochure: ''Mahasthan – the earliest city-site of Bangladesh'', published by the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 2003</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R. C. |author-link=R. C. Majumdar |year=1971 |title=History of Ancient Bengal |location=Calcutta |publisher=G. Bhardwaj & Co. |pages=5, 13 |oclc=961157849}}</ref> | Mahasthangarh is the earliest urban archaeological sites discovered thus far in [[Bangladesh]]. The village Mahasthan in [[Shibganj Upazila, Bogra|Shibganj upazila]] of [[Bogra District]] contains the remains of an ancient city which was called [[Pundranagar]]a or Paundravardhanapura in the territory of [[Pundravardhana]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Hossain |first=Md. Mosharraf |year=2006 |chapter=Preface |title=Mahasthan: Anecdote to History |location=Dhaka |publisher=Dibyaprakash |isbn=978-984-483-245-9 |quote=Mahasthan is the earliest urban archaeological site so far discovered in the present territory of ... Bangladesh}}</ref><ref name = "Brochure">Brochure: ''Mahasthan – the earliest city-site of Bangladesh'', published by the Department of Archaeology, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 2003</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Majumdar |first=R. C. |author-link=R. C. Majumdar |year=1971 |title=History of Ancient Bengal |location=Calcutta |publisher=G. Bhardwaj & Co. |pages=5, 13 |oclc=961157849}}</ref> | ||
==Geography== | ==Geography== | ||
[[File:BD Mahasthangarh3.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Mahasthangarh is the oldest archaeological site in [[Bangladesh]]. It dates back to 300 BCE and was the ancient capital of the [[Pundra Kingdom]].]] | |||
[[Mahasthangarh]], the ancient capital of Pundravardhana is located 11 km (7 mi) north of [[Bogra District|Bogra]] on the [[Bogra District|Bogra]]-[[Rangpur District|Rangpur]] highway, with a feeder road (running along the eastern side of the ramparts of the citadel for 1.5 km) leading to Jahajghata and site museum.<ref name = "Hossain 1">Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 14–15.</ref> | [[Mahasthangarh]], the ancient capital of Pundravardhana is located 11 km (7 mi) north of [[Bogra District|Bogra]] on the [[Bogra District|Bogra]]-[[Rangpur District|Rangpur]] highway, with a feeder road (running along the eastern side of the ramparts of the citadel for 1.5 km) leading to Jahajghata and site museum.<ref name = "Hossain 1">Hossain, Md. Mosharraf, pp. 14–15.</ref> | ||
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6. [dhani*][yi]kehi esa kothagale kosam [bhara*]-<br> | 6. [dhani*][yi]kehi esa kothagale kosam [bhara*]-<br> | ||
7. [niye] | 7. [niye] | ||
<br > —Translation by [[D. R. Bhandarkar]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/hnch_mourya-samrajya-ka-itihas-by-satyaketu-vidyalankar-1980-new-delhi-shri-saraswati-sadan|title=Mourya Samrajya Ka Itihas By Satyaketu Vidyalankar 1980 New Delhi Shri Saraswati Sadan|last=|pages=455}}</ref> | [[File:Mahasthan inscription.jpg|thumb|The Mauryan period Mahasthan inscription in [[Brahmi]], recording a land grant.<ref name="SH">{{cite book |last1=Sastri |first1=Hirananda |title=Epigraphia Indica vol.21 |date=1931 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.9580/page/n119 83]–89 |url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.9580}}</ref>]] | ||
<br > —Translation by [[D. R. Bhandarkar]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://archive.org/details/hnch_mourya-samrajya-ka-itihas-by-satyaketu-vidyalankar-1980-new-delhi-shri-saraswati-sadan|title=Mourya Samrajya Ka Itihas By Satyaketu Vidyalankar 1980 New Delhi Shri Saraswati Sadan|last=|pages=455}}</ref> | |||
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To Gobadam (Goberdhana) of Samvamgiyas ……. (was granted) by order. The Mahamatras from the highly auspicious Pundranagara will cause it to be carried out. (And likewise) paddy to be granted to the Samvamgiyas. The outbreak (of distress) in the town during outburst of superhuman agency shall be tiled over. When there is an excess of plenty, this granary and treasury (may be replenished) with paddy and gandaka coins. | |||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||