Page:The Ancient Geography of India.djvu/585

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SOUTHERN INDIA. 531

opinion of the Greek origin of the recorder is thus read by himself:*-

Dhanukâkadha Yavanasa Sihadhayânam thabha dânam. "A gift of lion-supporting pillar by the Greek Xenocrates."

My rendering is somewhat different,―

"Lion-bearing pillar-gift of Yavana of Dhanuka- kata."

Dr. Stevenson translates Yavana as " Greek ;" ." but

the following inscription+ shows most distinctly that Dhanukakata is the name of a place, and consequently Yavana must be the name of a man.

Dhenukakata Usabhadata-putasa Mita Deva nakasa thabha dânam.

This is translated by Dr. Stevenson as :—

"The gift of a pillar by the chief Mitra Deva, son of Dhenukakata (surnamed) Rishabadatta."

To explain this translation he supposes Dhenuka- kata to be a Greek, with a Greek name, and to have also a Hindu name which he "probably assumed when he embraced Buddhism, or on adoption into some Hindu family, when names also are changed." But by taking Dhanukaka as the name of a place, this in- scription may be rendered without any forced assump- tion of a second name. My rendering is,-

“Pillar-gift of the chief Mitra-Deva, son of Risha- badatta of Dhanukakaṭa."

The third Kârle inscription is unfortunately slightly imperfect in the donor's name, and the concluding

Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bombay, v. 156. Kârle inscription No. 14.

† Ibid., v. 156. Kârle inscription No. 11.

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