Sanchi inscription of Chandragupta II


The Sanchi inscription of Chandragupta II is an epigraphic record documenting a donation to the Buddhist establishment at Sanchi in the reign of king Chandragupta II. It is dated year 93 in the Gupta era.

Location

Sanchi is located in Raisen District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The inscription is in situ on railing of the main stūpa, to the immediate left of the eastern gate.

Publication

After early notices in the time of James Prinsep, the inscription was published by John Faithfull Fleet in 1888. For later editions and translations, see The South Asia Inscriptions Database.

Historical Significance

The inscription is important for the history of Sanchi because it was added to the outer railing, a part of the monument generally dated to circa 100 BCE. It therefore registers a donation to a religious site that was at least five centuries old when the gift was made. The historical significance of the inscription as a document of inter-religious tolerance has been explored by Hans T. Bakker.

Text

The text is in Sanskrit and available through The South Asia Inscriptions Database, see external links.

Translation