Junagarh Rock Inscription of Rudradaman - 'The first recorded inscription in Sanskrit'

Rudradaman I, the greatest of the Saka ruler in India is known to us from his coins, but more so from his Junagarh Inscription dated in the Saka year 72 i.e 150 AD. It is located on a rock near Girnar hill, in Junagadh, Gujarat. This inscription written in Brahmi script, entirely in prose, using Sanskrit language was the earliest record ever written in perfect Sanskrit. The Rudradaman inscription is in fact one of the three significant inscriptions found on the same rock, dated to be the second in chronology. The oldest inscription is a version of Ashoka edicts, while the last and third inscription is of the Gupta Emperor Skandagupta. The Rudradaman inscription is near the top, above the Ashoka edict.

Jungadh rock inscription of Rudradaman I

Rudradaman I belonged to the Western Kshatrapa dynasty of Kardamkas. The Western Satraps or Western Kshatrapas (35–405 AD) were Indo-Scythian (Saka) rulers of the western and central part of India. Rudradaman took up the title of Maha-Kshtrapa ("Great Satrap"), after he became the king and then strenghened his kingdom. He later married a Hindu woman and converted into Hinduism. The geneology mentioned in the inscription includes his father Jayadaman and his grandfather Chastana.

Rudradaman I coin, with corrupted Greek legend. British Museum.

The inscription consists of twenty lines. The first eight lines offer a historical record of the restoration work of a reservoir named "Sudarshana Lake" which was built by the great Mauryan Ruler Chandragupta Maurya in 4th Century BC. The inscription goes on to tell us that during the reign of the Maha Kshtrapa Rudradaman in the Saka year 72, there was a terrible storm. The rain that accompaied the storm had converted the earth into one ocean. The Sudarshana Lake was badly damamged. The embarkments were broken and all water flowed out. So great was the damage that Rudradaman's ministers thought that it was beyond repair. But Rudradaman ordered the job to be done. The lake was repaired and made three times as strong in length and breadth than before, in a very short time without oppressing the inhabitants of the town by taxes and forced labour. The inscription tells us that all this was done in order to benefit the cows and brahmanas for thousands years and for the sake of Dharma and Kirti.

Silver coin of Rudradaman I.
Obv: Bust of Rudradaman, with corrupted Greek legend "OVONIΛOOCVΛCHΛNO".
Rev: Three-arched hill or Chaitya with river, crescent and sun. Brahmi legend: "Rajno Ksatrapasa Jayadamasaputrasa Rajno Mahaksatrapasa Rudradamasa": "King and Great Satrap Rudradaman, son of King and Satrap Jayadaman"

The inscription goes on to tell us that Rudradaman made wide conquests over the areas of Malwa, Saurashtra, Northern Konkan and Narmada valley. As a result of these conquests he regained all the territories which were previously held by Nahapana, the Saka ruler of the earlier Kshaharta dynasty. Rudradaman twice defaeted Satakarni, the lord of the Dakshinapatha, but did not destroy him and spared his life only because he was a close relative. The Satakarni mentioned seems to be none other than Gautamiputra Satakarni - the most famous ruler of the Satavahana dynasty of the deccan. Rudradaman's daughter was married to Gautamiputra Satakarni's son Vashishtaputra Pualamayi I. Rudradaman also destroyed the yaudheyas. We are told that towns, villages and markets of this king were never troubled by the robbers, snakes and wild beasts. His subjects were attached to him and as a result his prowess, attained the goals of dharma, artha and kama.

The last twelve lines praise king Rudradaman I (literally, "garland of Rudra"). The elaborate poetic description of rudradaman describes him as one:
-who was distinguished by Royal Fortuneright from the time he was in his brother's womb.
-who had been chosen by all varnas as their lord to protect them.
-who had made a vow never to kill men except in battle
-who was moved by compassion
-who reinstated deposed kings
-who by raising his hand had earned the strong attachment of dharma
-who had earned wide fame by his knowledge and practise of grammer, logic, music and other sciences
-who was a composer of Sanskrit kavyas in prose and verse, embellished with figures and proper use of words.
-whose treasury was overflowing with gold, silver, diamonds and other precious stones.
-who showed respect to others and avoided disrespect

Thus the inscription presents a portrait of an ideal king according to the stnadrds and in the idiom of the time