Nagarjunakonda 
, located in Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh, India, was once a vast and thriving Buddhist center. Sprawling across a valley, the site originally held over 23 ancient monuments, including monasteries, stupas, and temples.
, located in Palnadu District, Andhra Pradesh, India, was once a vast and thriving Buddhist center. Sprawling across a valley, the site originally held over 23 ancient monuments, including monasteries, stupas, and temples.
However, in 1955 CE (2498 BE), the construction of the Nagarjunasagar Dam led to large-scale flooding of the valley. Only a few of the key archaeological structures could be salvaged and relocated; the rest are now submerged beneath the reservoir—a significant loss for Buddhist archaeology and world heritage.
A Rare Pāli Inscription
Among the structures that were documented, one notable discovery is a Pāli inscription, inscribed on a stupa railing post. This is remarkable because Pāli inscriptions in India are extremely rare; most Buddhist inscriptions from the subcontinent are in Prakrit or Sanskrit.
The Inscription:
Written in Brāhmī script, the Pāli lines read:
Namo bhagavato Agapolasa rañño Gotamī putasa Sirivijayasatakarṇisa saṁ 6 ghipa 4 diva Vesa 4 khapunas
Translation:
"Homage to the Blessed One. In the 6th year, on the 4th night of the summer season, in the month of Vesākha... (this is) under the reign of King Sirivijaya Sātakarṇi, son of Gotamī."
Historical Significance:
This inscription provides a rare Pāli-language record of Buddhist devotion and royal patronage in southern India.
It clearly states the name of the king, his royal lineage, and the exact time of the donation or construction:
King Sirivijaya Sātakarṇi, son of Queen Gotamī, of the Sātavāhana dynasty
His reign is dated to approximately 600 BE (57 BCE)
Noteworthy Features:
Clarity of Dating
Inscriptions from the Kuṣāṇa and Sātavāhana periods often precisely mention dates, months, and regnal years—a practice that greatly aids modern historians and archaeologists in reconstructing ancient timelines.
Religious and Political Connection
This inscription shows that Buddhism was actively supported by Sātavāhana kings, and that they commissioned Buddhist monuments such as stupas at important pilgrimage centers like Nagarjunakonda.
Use of Pāli
The usage of Pāli—rather than Sanskrit or Prakrit—suggests that Theravāda or early Buddhist traditions may have had influence in the region, at least during certain periods.
Reflection:
Despite its brevity, this single inscription carries enormous meaning. It connects us to a specific king, a specific moment in time, and a specific act of devotion—the enshrinement of a Buddhist stupa under royal patronage. It is also a precious example of Pāli epigraphy, surviving in a region where such finds are exceedingly rare.
"Even a few carved lines on ancient stone can open a gateway to centuries of devotion, history, and cultural exchange."
