Taxila Copper-plate Inscription

Taxila was an ancient city and a major center of learning during the time of the Buddha. Notable figures such as Aṅgulimāla, Jīvaka the physician, King Pasenadi of Kosala, General Bandhula, and Prince Mahāli of Vesālī all studied there. Today, the city is located in the Rawalpindi District of Pakistan (previously under Indian territory). The name "Taxila" has been recorded in several forms:

1. In Pali: ตักกสิลา (Takkasilā – तक्कसिला)

2. In Sanskrit: ตักษศิลา (Takṣaśilā – तक्षशिला)

3. In modern usage: ตักษิลา (Taxila – तक्षिला)

Many archaeological artifacts have been unearthed in Taxila, among which are numerous inscriptions. One significant find is a copper-plate inscription, 14 inches long, discovered by local villagers near Taxila in January 1862 (B.E. 2405). It was acquired by Mr. A.A. Robert, who then presented it to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta. The plate, broken into three pieces, is inscribed with five lines of Kharoshthi script in the Prakrit language. The content of the inscription is as follows:

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Line 1:

In the 78th year of the reign of the great king Moga (Maharaja Moga), on the 5th day of the month of Panemo, in the 1st fortnight, during the reign of the Kashaharata and the Kshatrapa kings of the Chukhsa dynasty, Liaka Kusulaka, the son of Patika…

Line 2:

…residing in the city of Takṣaśilā, in the northern and eastern regions, named the king of this place, the lay devotee Patika established…

Line 3:

…the relics of the Blessed One, Śākyamuni Buddha, in a monastery, and also offered a monastery for the worship of all Buddhas, honoring his parents…

Line 4:

…and enhancing the glory and strength of the Kshatrapa king, along with his sons and wife, as well as in honor of all relatives and kinsmen, the great donor Patika of the Chauvana clan…

Line 5:

…with Rohinimitra as supervisor, established these new monasteries.

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Translation Summary:

In the 78th year of the reign of the great king Moga, on the 5th waxing day of the month Panemo, during the reign of the Kshatrapa king of the Chukhsa dynasty, Liaka Kusulaka—son of the lay devotee Patika, residing in Taxila (north and east of the city)—established the relics of Śākyamuni Buddha in a monastery and constructed a new monastery under the supervision of Rohinimitra. This was done as an offering to all Buddhas, in honor of his parents, for the prosperity of the Kshatrapa king, his wife and children, and all blood relatives.

This inscription, known as the Patika Inscription, affirms that the people of Taxila enshrined the Buddha’s relics during King Moga’s reign in the month of Panemo. Interestingly, some Taxila inscriptions use Indian lunar months, while others adopt the Greek calendar—this one uses the latter.

The copper-plate is currently housed at the British Museum in London, United Kingdom.

Although Buddhism eventually declined and disappeared from India, it left behind a vast amount of archaeological evidence—more than any other religion in the Indian subcontinent. We will continue to present these fascinating records for your interest. Please stay tuned and don’t get bored just yet!