Talang Tuwo inscription is a 7th century Srivijaya inscription discovered by Louis Constant Westenenk on 17 November 1920 on the foot of Bukit Seguntang near Palembang.
The inscription was discovered in good condition with clear inscribed scripts. Its size is 50cm × 80 cm stone block and dated from 606 Saka (corresponds to 23 March 684), written Pallava script in Old Malay, consists of 14 lines. Van Ronkel and Bosch are the first scholars that translated th inscription, their works was published in Acta Orientalia.Since 1920 the inscription is stored in National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta, under inventory number D.145.
Contents |
The writings on Talang Tuwo inscriptions:
The translation according to George Cœdès.
| “ | On 23 March 684, on that day the park named Śrīksetra was created under the order of Sri Baginda Śrī Jayanāśa. his majesty intention is: May all (plants) planted here, coconut tree, Areca catechu, Arenga pinnata, sagoo, and all kinds of trees, the fruits are edible, as well as haur bamboo, waluh, and pattum, et cetera; and may all other plants with the dams and ponds, and all of good deed that I've gave (contributed) can be enjoyed for the benefit of all creatures; the one that can moved around and ones that can not, and may this would be the best path to achieve happiness. If they were hungry, or need a rest during their journey, may they find foods and drinks. May all the orchard that they have opened be abundance (the harvest). May all kinds of animals that they have kept were fertile, and also their slaves. May the misfortunes would not befell upon them, not being tortured because can not sleep. What ever they done, may all the planets and stars favour their fortunes, and may they be spared from sickness and old age during their efforts. And may all their subjects are loyal and devoted, also may all their friend would not betrayed them, and may their wive are faithful. Moreover, may wherever they were, there will be no thieves, or people that using violences, killers and adulterers. Next to all those (good wishes), may they have a (faithful) friends; may from themselves born the tought of Boddhi and friendship (...) from three Ratnas. And may they always (acted) generous, following the rules, and be patience; may from themselves grew strength, diligence, knowledge of all kinds of arts; may their attention be focused, have knowledge, good memory and intelligence. May they have tenacious tought, with diamond body just like the Mahāsattvas with uncomparable power, glorious, and remembering their previous lifes, with complete senses, fully (beautiful) formed, happy, smiling, calm, have pleasant voice, the voice of Brahmā. May they be (born as) man, with very existence were (a blessing) because of themselves; may they become the vessel of cintamani sacred stone, have power of (cycle of) births, power upon karma, power upon stains, and may they finally achieved the perfect and grand (spiritual) enlightenment. | ” |
The inscriptions is among the earliest evidence of written archaic Old Malay language. Several words vocabularies are still recognizeable and intelligible in modern Malay language and Indonesian language. There is significant similarities and some modivications, such as the prefix di- was used to be ni-, the previx me- was used to be mar- or ma-, while the suffix -nya was used to be -na in their archaic form. Here are the examples: Old Malay, contemporary Malay and Indonesian, and their meanings in english
|
|
|
|