The correct option is (d).
Explanation
Chola inscriptions, particularly those recorded on copper plates, are renowned for their meticulous documentation of land grants (such as Brahmadeya). These records defined the boundaries of the gifted land and provided an exhaustive inventory of all resources contained within it to ensure the donee's absolute rights over the property and its produce.Analysis of the Items:
According to historical records and specific Chola inscriptions, the land grants explicitly listed a wide variety of natural and man-made features to avoid ambiguity regarding ownership. The list included:
- Fruit-bearing trees, gardens, and orchards.
- Water sources such as wells, canals, tanks, rivers, and deep lakes.
- Land classifications including pasture-land, silt-laden land, and open spaces.
- Specific features such as platforms, granaries, bee hives, and even anthills.
Since all four items-fruit-bearing trees, anthills, deep lakes, and open spaces-are explicitly mentioned in the text of these inscriptions, all statements are correct.
Key Takeaway: Chola land grant inscriptions were highly detailed legal documents that listed every possible resource on the land, from major water bodies to minor features like anthills, to transfer complete administrative and economic rights to the receiver.