Bhaurya Inscription of Rajyapala

This article presents a detailed study of a newly discovered stone inscription from Bhaurya in Bihar that mentions Rajyapala, a king of the Pala dynasty of Bengal and Bihar. The author describes the physical state of the inscription and its northern Nagari script, noting that palaeographical features place it in the late tenth century. By comparing orthographic forms with dated records, the author concludes that the inscription belongs to the reign of Rajyapala, who ruled around 908–940 A.D.. The inscription records a grant of land to Brahmins and provides genealogical information about Rajyapala’s ancestors. After transliterating and translating the Sanskrit text, the author analyses its contents. The document is dated to the king’s second regnal year and is thus one of the earliest records of his reign. Comparing this with an inscription from Bargaon dated to Rajyapala’s twenty-fourth year, the author reconstructs a chronology of his long rule. He argues that the Bhaurya inscription helps anchor the early phase of Pala history after Mahipala and shows how Rajyapala consolidated authority by granting land to religious institutions. The article discusses the administrative system revealed by the record, including titles of officials, measures of land and revenue terms. By placing the inscription within the broader corpus of Pala epigraphy, the author elucidates patterns of territorial expansion and religious patronage. The study highlights how epigraphic evidence enriches our understanding of Pala chronology and socio-economic policies in early medieval India.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.