Tat-padanudhyata
By K. Chattopadhyaya
Summary
This brief note addresses the correct reading and interpretation of the Sanskrit epigraphical term padanudhyāta, which has been mistranslated in previous publications. Examining an inscription from the Nadsur plates and other sources, the author argues that the term should not be read as padanudyata (‘one who has set foot on’) but as padanudhyāta (‘one who meditates on the feet’). The morphological analysis shows that anudhyāta is a passive participle meaning ‘meditated upon’, whereas nudyata would derive from a different verbal root. The note explains that the phrase appears in inscriptions honouring kings and should be interpreted as referring to rulers who meditate upon—or are devoted to—the feet of deities. The author emphasises that such epigraphic terms carry religious and political connotations; correct translation is essential for understanding the ideology of royal grants. By clarifying the correct reading, the note removes confusion in future interpretations of Sanskrit inscriptions.
Conclusion
The author argues that padanudhyāta in Sanskrit inscriptions should be translated as ‘one who meditates upon the feet’ rather than ‘one whose feet are worshipped’. This linguistic correction has implications for interpreting royal titles and religious devotion in epigraphs and highlights the importance of precise philology in epigraphic studies.