Granting of immunities regarding land. Concerns a village and a hospital.
The inscription was discovered by the Archaeological Commissioner, H. C. P. Bell, in August 1897 in the course exploring the ruins of Mäḍirigiriya in Tamankaḍuva, about forty-six miles east-south-east of Anurādhapura. It is engraved on four sides of a stone pillar and consists of 95 lines in the Sinhalese alphabet of the 10th and early 11th centuries A.D. The text is dated to the third year of king Abhā Salamevan and records the granting of certain immunities in respect of the land within the four boundaries of Mäḍiligiri-Ätveher-Piyan-gala in Rantisǟ in the district of Bidervatu-kuḷiya. Wickremasinghe suggests that the biruda Abhā Salamevan refers in this instance to Kassapa V.
Inscriptions of Ceylon V (1) - pp.285-289
On the fifth day of the waning moon [of the month of . . . . .], in the third year [of the reign] of His Majesty Abhā Salamevan who is [like unto] a tilaka mark [of adornment] to the . . . . prosperous island of Laṅkā, an embodiment of good fortune and majesty, a descendant of the Okkāka dynasty, and who was born of the twice-anointed queen unto the great king Mayurādunu Siri San̆g-boy, illuminating the whole of Dambadiva with his glory.
Whereas it was [so] decreed by the Supreme Council, we, all of us, Officers of State, namely, Mekāppar Asaholu Mihindu of the family of Pāṇ̆ḍi-rad Dāpuḷa, and Sumeragamu Sātā and Kuṇ̆ḍasalā Kit of the family of Mahāle Kasbā Araksamaṇa, have come.
And whereas, touching the area included within the four boundaries of Mäḍiligiri–Ätveher–Piyan–gala situated in Rantisǟ in the district of Bider-vatu-kuḷiya, it was graciously decreed by the Supreme Council that holders (?) of [the management of] two places of business shall not enter; perenāṭṭiyam shall not enter; dunumaḍula melāttī shall not enter; labourers, village oxen, carts, and buffaloes shall not be appropriated; officers of bowmen, heads of districts or keepers of (district) record books shall not enter and exercise authority; the five superintendents of fields shall not enter; tramps and vagrants shall not enter; . . . . milk, gifts of raw or boiled rice shall not be appropriated; those who having committed homicide come [into the village for refuge] shall only be arrested after they have been made to quit the village, but no [official] shall enter the village and arrest them. Inmates of the hospital shall not enter the village and commit . . . . . . ; agricultural officials shall not enter the village and appropriate . . . . (Dead?) goats and fowls shall be assigned to the hospital of the Vihāra.
We [the said] State Officials, namely, Mekāppar Asaholu Mihindu of the family of Pāṇ̆ḍi–rad Dāpuḷa, and Sumergamu Sātā and Kuṇ̆ḍasalā Kit of the family of Mahāle Kasbā Araksamaṇa, have come by Order and granted this Council warrant of immunity to the area included within the four boundaries of Mäḍiligiri–veher–Piyan–gala situated in Rantisǟ in the district of Bidervatu–kuḷiya.
Whoever shall transgress this [edict] shall be crows and dogs [in their future birth. May there be] Health and Prosperity!
Inscriptions of Ceylon V (1) – pp.285-289
On the fifth day of the waning moon in the month of Navaya (January/February) in the third (regnal) year of His Majesty Debisevhu dā Abhā Salamevan, the son of the Great King Sirisangboy, who was descended from the lineage of Okkāka, which is comparable to a forehead ornament unto the world renowned island of Sri Lanka; he of abundant splendour, a mass of splendour, who by its fullness illuminated the whole expanse of Jambudvipa and then conquered Madhurā.
(I,) Mekāppar Mihindu of Asahola, and (I,) Sātā of Sumergama, who both came by commission of Pāndirad Dāpulu and (I,) Kuḍasalā Kitu who came by the commission of Mahāle Kasbā, the Chief Guardian; we, the aforementioned Lords of the royal household having come (here) as announced and ordered by the Supreme Council (to grant immunities) have accordingly granted immunities in respect of the land situated within the four boundaries of the Meditation-hall of the Inner Monastery of the Mānḍiligiriya-vihāra, situated in Rantisa in Bidervatu-kuliya, to the effect that the officials of the Two Treasuries and of the Two Secretariars shall not enter this (premises); also the Perenāṭṭiyam officers shall not enter, also the members of the Archery Division, and Melātti tax collectors shall not enter.
Domesticated elephants, village oxen, carts, and buffaloes shall not be appropriated. The Archers, Security Guards, the Governors of Districts and the Governors of Provinces shall not try to enforce (their) authority after having entered this premises; the Agriculture Committee of the Five members shall not enter; also the Mangdiva and Piyadiva officers shall not enter. The levies of Sandipeda and Utu-kiri, raw-rice, and cooked food shall not be extracted.
Those who may enter here after having committed murder (elsewhere) shall not be apprehended by (the officials) entering the village, but may be arrested after they have been made to quit the village; employees of the hospital shall not enter the village and commit any offence; the Agriculture officers, after entering the village, shall not procure paddy from the District. The carcasses of goats and fowl shall be deposited with the monastic hospital.
(I,) Mekāppar Mihindu of Asahola, and (I,) Sātā of Sumergama, who both came by commission of Pāndirad Dāpulu; (I,) Kudasalā Kitu who came by the commission of Mahale Kasbā, the Chief Guardian; we, the aforementioned Lords of the royal household having come (here) as commanded granted these immunities in respect of the land situated within the four boundaries of the Meditation-hall of the Inner-monastery of the Māndiligiriya-vihāra situated in Rantisa in Bidervatu-kuliya. Those who transgress these (regulations) by entering this place, shall become crows and dogs. May there be good health and Prosperity!