Nalanda Stone Inscription of Yasovarmadeva
By A. K. Mrithyunjayan
Summary
Mrityunjaya presents and interprets a stone inscription from Nalanda attributed to King Yaśovarmadeva, a ruler of the mid‑eighth century. The inscription records a land grant to a Buddhist monastery and praises the king’s virtues. Mrityunjaya offers a transliteration and translation, noting the inscription’s blend of Sanskrit panegyric and vernacular influences. He discusses the historical context of Yaśovarmadeva’s reign, including his patronage of Nalanda and his political alliances. The article compares the inscription with other contemporary records from eastern India, highlighting similarities in epigraphic style and donation formulas. Mrityunjaya argues that the inscription sheds light on the persistence of Buddhist monasticism in Bihar during a time of political fragmentation and on the interaction between local rulers and religious institutions.
Conclusion
Mrityunjaya concludes that the Nalanda stone inscription of Yaśovarmadeva is a valuable document for understanding the continuity of Buddhist patronage in post‑Gupta India. It affirms that local rulers continued to support monasteries and that Nalanda remained a significant educational centre in the eighth century.