The Edicts of King

TheEdictsofKingAsoka

AnEnglishrendering

By

Ven.S.Dhammika

BuddhistPublicationSocietyKandy•SriLanka

TheWheelPublicationNo.386/387FirstPublished:1993

Copyright©BPS,1993

DigitalTranscriptionSource:BuddhistPublicationSocietyandAccesstoInsight

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Forfreedistribution.Thisworkmayberepublished,reformatted,reprintedandredistributedinanymedium.However,anysuchrepublicationandredistributionistobemadeavailabletothepubliconafreeandunrestrictedbasisandtranslationsandotherderivativeworksaretobeclearlymarkedassuchandtheBuddhistPublicationSocietyistobeacknowledgedastheoriginalpublisher.

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Contents

PrefaceIntroductionTheFourteenRockEdicts

TheKali?gaRockEdictsMinorRockEdictsTheSevenPillarEdictsTheMinorPillarEdictsBibliography

Preface

ThisrenderingofKingAsoka’sEdictsisbasedheavilyonAmulyachandraSen’sEnglishtranslation,whichincludestheoriginalMagadhiandaSanskritandEnglishtranslationofthetext.However,manypartsoftheedictsarefarfromclearinmeaningandthenumeroustranslationsofthemdifferwidely.Therefore,IhavealsoconsultedthetranslationsofC.D.SircarandD.R.Bhandarkarandinpartsfavouredtheirinterpretations.Anycreditthissmallbookdeservesisdueentirelytothelaboursandlearningof

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thesescholars.

Introduction

Dhammasādhu,kiyaṃcudhammeti?Apāsinave,bahukayāne,dayā,dāne,sace,socaye.

Dhammaisgood,butwhatconstitutesDhamma?(Itincludes)littleevil,muchgood,kindness,generosity,truthfulnessandpurity.

KingAsoka

WiththerediscoveryandtranslationofIndianliteraturebyEuropeanscholarsinthe19thcentury,itwasnotjustthereligionandphilosophyofBuddhismthatcametolight,butalsoitsmanylegendaryhistoriesandbiographies.Amongstthisclassofliterature,onenamethatcametobenoticedwasthatofAsoka,agoodkingwhowassupposedtohaveruledIndiainthedistantpast.Storiesaboutthisking,similarinoutlinebutdifferinggreatlyindetails,werefoundintheDivyāvadāna,theAśokāvadāna,theMahāvaṃsaandseveralotherworks.Theytoldofanexceptionallycruelandruthlessprincewhohadmany

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ofhisbrotherskilledinordertoseizethethrone,whowasdramaticallyconvertedtoBuddhismandwhoruledwiselyandjustlyfortherestofhislife.Noneofthesestoriesweretakenseriously—afterallmanypre-moderncultureshadlegendsabout“toogoodtobetrue”kingswhohadruledrighteouslyinthepastandwho,peoplehoped,wouldruleagainsoon.Mostoftheselegendshadtheiroriginsmoreinpopularlongingtoberidofthedespoticanduncaringkingsthaninanyhistoricalfact.AndthenumerousstoriesaboutAsokawereassumedtobethesame.

Butin1837,JamesPrinsepsucceededindecipheringanancientinscriptiononalargestonepillarinDelhi.Severalotherpillarsandrockswithsimilarinscriptionshadbeenknownforsometimeandhadattractedthecuriosityofscholars.Prinsep’sinscriptionprovedtobeaseriesofedictsissuedbyakingcallinghimself“Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi.”Inthefollowingdecades,moreandmoreedictsbythissamekingwerediscoveredandwithincreasinglyaccuratedeciphermentoftheirlanguage,amorecompletepictureofthismanandhisdeedsbegantoemerge.Gradually,itdawnedonscholarsthattheKingPiyadasioftheedictsmightbetheKingAsokasooftenpraisedinBuddhistlegends.However,itwasnotuntil1915,whenanotheredictactuallymentioningthenameAsokawasdiscovered,thattheidentification

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wasconfirmed.Havingbeenforgottenfornearly700years,oneofthegreatestmeninhistorybecameknowntotheworldonceagain.

Asoka’sedictsaremainlyconcernedwiththereformsheinstitutedandthemoralprinciplesherecommendedinhisattempttocreateajustandhumanesociety.Assuch,theygiveuslittleinformationabouthislife,thedetailsofwhichhavetobeculledfromothersources.AlthoughtheexactdatesofAsoka’slifeareamatterofdisputeamongscholars,hewasborninabout304B.C.andbecamethethirdkingoftheMauryandynastyafterthedeathofhisfather,Bindusāra.HisgivennamewasAsokabutheassumedthetitleDevānampiyatissaPiyadasiwhichmeans“Beloved-of-the-Gods,HeWhoLooksonwithAffection.”Thereseemstohavebeenatwo-yearwarofsuccessionduringwhichatleastoneofAsoka’sbrotherswaskilled.In262B.C.,eightyearsafterhiscoronation,Asoka’sarmiesattackedandconqueredKāliṅga,acountrythatroughlycorrespondstothemodernstateofOrissa.Thelossoflifecausedbybattle,reprisals,deportationsandtheturmoilthatalwaysexistsintheaftermathofwarsohorrifiedAsokathatitbroughtaboutacompletechangeinhispersonality.ItseemsthatAsokahadbeencallinghimselfaBuddhistforatleasttwoyearspriortotheKāliṅgawar,buthiscommitmenttoBuddhismwas

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onlylukewarmandperhapshadapoliticalmotivebehindit.ButafterthewarAsokadedicatedtherestofhislifetryingtoapplyBuddhistprinciplestotheadministrationofhisvastempire.HehadacrucialparttoplayinhelpingBuddhismtospreadboththroughoutIndiaandabroad,andprobablybuiltthefirstmajorBuddhistmonuments.Asokadiedin232B.C.inthethirty-eighthyearofhisreign.

Asoka’sedictsaretobefoundscatteredinmorethanthirtyplacesthroughoutIndia,Nepal,PakistanandAfghanistan.MostofthemarewritteninBrāhmīscriptfromwhichallIndianscriptsandmanyofthoseusedinSoutheastAsialaterdeveloped.Thelanguageusedintheedictsfoundintheeasternpartofthesub-continentisatypeofMagadhi,probablytheofficiallanguageofAsoka’scourt.ThelanguageusedintheedictsfoundinthewesternpartofIndiaisclosertoSanskritalthoughonebilingualedictinAfghanistaniswritteninAramaicandGreek.Asoka’sedicts,whichcomprisetheearliestdecipherablecorpusofwrittendocumentsfromIndia,havesurvivedthroughoutthecenturiesbecausetheyarewrittenonrocksandstonepillars.ThesepillarsinparticulararetestimonytothetechnologicalandartisticgeniusofancientIndiancivilization.Originally,theremusthavebeenmanyofthem,althoughonlytenwithinscriptionsstillsurvive.Averagingbetweenfortyandfiftyfeetinheight,and

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weighinguptofiftytonseach,allthepillarswerequarriedatChunar,justsouthofVaranasianddragged,sometimeshundredsofmiles,towheretheywereerected.Eachpillarwasoriginallycappedbyacapital,sometimesaroaringlion,anoblebulloraspiritedhorse,andthefewcapitalsthatsurvivearewidelyrecognizedasmasterpiecesofIndianart.Boththepillarsandthecapitalsexhibitaremarkablemirror-likepolishthathassurviveddespitecenturiesofexposuretotheelements.Thelocationoftherockedictsisgovernedbytheavailabilityofsuitablerocks,buttheedictsonpillarsarealltobefoundinveryspecificplaces.Some,liketheLumbinīpillar,marktheBuddha’sbirthplace,whileitsinscriptionscommemorateAsoka’spilgrimagetothatplace.Othersaretobefoundinornearimportantpopulationcentressothattheiredictscouldbereadbyasmanypeopleaspossible.

ThereislittledoubtthatAsoka’sedictswerewritteninhisownwordsratherthaninthestylisticlanguageinwhichroyaledictsorproclamationsintheancientworldwereusuallywrittenin.Theirdistinctlypersonaltonegivesusauniqueglimpseintothepersonalityofthiscomplexandremarkableman.Asoka’sstyletendstobesomewhatrepetitiousandploddingasifexplainingsomethingtoonewhohasdifficultyinunderstanding.Asokafrequentlyrefersto

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thegoodworkshehasdone,althoughnotinaboastfulway,butmore,itseems,toconvincethereaderofhissincerity.Infact,ananxiousnesstobethoughtofasasincerepersonandagoodadministratorispresentinnearlyeveryedict.Asokatellshissubjectsthathelookeduponthemashischildren,thattheirwelfareishismainconcern;heapologizesfortheKāliṅgawarandreassuresthepeoplebeyondthebordersofhisempirethathehasnoexpansionistintentionstowardsthem.Mixedwiththissincerity,thereisadefinitepuritanicalstreakinAsoka’scharactersuggestedbyhisdisapprovaloffestivalsandofreligiousritualsmanyofwhichwhilebeingoflittlevaluewerenonethelessharmless.

ItisalsoveryclearthatBuddhismwasthemostinfluentialforceinAsoka’slifeandthathehopedhissubjectslikewisewouldadopthisreligion.HewentonpilgrimagestoLumbinīandBodhGayā,sentteachingmonkstovariousregionsinIndiaandbeyonditsborders,andhewasfamiliarenoughwiththesacredtextstorecommendsomeofthemtothemonasticcommunity.ItisalsoveryclearthatAsokasawthereformsheinstitutedasbeingapartofhisdutiesasaBuddhist.But,whilehewasanenthusiasticBuddhist,hewasnotpartisantowardshisownreligionorintolerantofotherreligions.Heseemstohavegenuinelyhopedtobeabletoencourageeveryoneto

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practicehisorherownreligionwiththesameconvictionthathepracticedhis.

ScholarshavesuggestedthatbecausetheedictssaynothingaboutthephilosophicalaspectsofBuddhism,AsokahadasimplisticandnaiveunderstandingoftheDhamma.ThisviewdoesnottakeintoaccountthefactthatthepurposeoftheedictswasnottoexpoundthetruthsofBuddhism,buttoinformthepeopleofAsoka’sreformsandtoencouragethemtobemoregenerous,kindandmoral.Thisbeingthecase,therewasnoreasonforAsokatodiscussBuddhistphilosophy.Asokaemergesfromhisedictsasanableadministrator,anintelligenthumanbeingandasadevotedBuddhist,andwecouldexpecthimtotakeaskeenaninterestinBuddhistphilosophyashedidinBuddhistpractice.

ThecontentsofAsoka’sedictsmakeitclearthatallthelegendsabouthiswiseandhumanerulearemorethanjustifiedandqualifyhimtoberankedasoneofthegreatestrulers.Inhisedicts,hespokeofwhatmightbecalledstatemorality,andprivateorindividualmorality.Thefirstwaswhathebasedhisadministrationuponandwhathehopedwouldleadtoamorejust,morespirituallyinclinedsociety,whilethesecondwaswhatherecommendedandencouragedindividualstopractice.BoththesetypesofmoralitywereimbuedwiththeBuddhistvaluesof

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compassion,moderation,toleranceandrespectforalllife.TheAsokanstategaveupthepredatoryforeignpolicythathadcharacterizedtheMauryanempireuptillthenandreplaceditwithapolicyofpeacefulco-existence.Thejudicialsystemwasreformedinordertomakeitmorefair,lessharshandlessopentoabuse,whilethosesentencedtodeathweregivenastayofexecutiontoprepareappealsandregularamnestiesweregiventoprisoners.Stateresourceswereusedforusefulpublicworksliketheimportationandcultivationofmedicalherbs,thebuildingofresthouses,thediggingofwellsatregularintervalsalongmainroadsandtheplantingoffruitandshadetrees.Toensuethatthesereformsandprojectswerecarriedout,Asokamadehimselfmoreaccessibletohissubjectsbygoingonfrequentinspectiontoursandheexpectedhisdistrictofficerstofollowhisexample.Tothesameend,hegaveordersthatimportantstatebusinessorpetitionswerenevertobekeptfromhimnomatterwhathewasdoingatthetime.Thestatehadaresponsibilitynotjusttoprotectandpromotethewelfareofitspeoplebutalsoitswildlife.Huntingcertainspeciesofwildanimalswasbanned,forestandwildlifereserveswereestablishedandcrueltytodomesticandwildanimalswasprohibited.Theprotectionofallreligions,theirpromotionandthefosteringofharmonybetweenthem,wasalsoseenas

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oneofthedutiesofthestate.ItevenseemsthatsomethinglikeaDepartmentofReligiousAffairswasestablishedwithofficerscalledDhammaMahāmātraswhosejobitwastolookaftertheaffairsofvariousreligiousbodiesandtoencouragethepracticeofreligion.

TheindividualmoralitythatAsokahopedtofosterincludedrespect(susrūsa)towardsparents,elders,teachers,friends,servants,asceticsandBrahmans—behaviourthataccordswiththeadvicegiventoSigālabytheBuddha(DīghaNikāya,DiscourseNo.31).Heencouragedgenerosity(dāna)tothepoor(kapana-valāka),toasceticsandbrahmans,andtofriendsandrelatives.Notsurprisingly,Asokaencouragedharmlessnesstowardsalllife(avihisābhutānaṃ).InconformitywiththeBuddha’sadviceintheAṅguttaraNikāya,AII282,healsoconsideredmoderationinspendingandmoderationinsavingtobegood(apavyayatāapabhāḍatā).Treatingpeopleproperly(saṃyapratipatī),hesuggested,wasmuchmoreimportantthanperformingceremoniesthatweresupposedtobringgoodluck.Becauseithelpedpromotetoleranceandmutualrespect,Asokadesiredthatpeopleshouldbewell-learned(bahusruta)inthegooddoctrines(kalāṇāgama)ofotherpeople’sreligions.ThequalitiesofheartthatarerecommendedbyAsokaintheedictsindicatehisdeepspirituality.

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Theyincludekindness(daya),self-examination(palikhāya),truthfulness(sace),gratitude(kataṃñatā),purityofheart(bhāvasudhi),enthusiasm(usāhena),strongloyalty(daḍhabhatitā),self-control(sayame)andloveoftheDhamma(dhammakāmatā).

WehavenowayofknowinghoweffectiveAsoka’sreformswereorhowlongtheylastedbutwedoknowthatmonarchsthroughouttheancientBuddhistworldwereencouragedtolooktohisstyleofgovernmentasanidealtobefollowed.KingAsokahastobecreditedwiththefirstattempttodevelopaBuddhistpolity.Today,withwidespreaddisillusionmentinprevailingideologiesandthesearchforapoliticalphilosophythatgoesbeyondgreed(capitalism),hatred(communism)anddelusion(dictatorshipsledby“infallible”leaders),Asoka’sedictsmaymakeameaningfulcontributiontothedevelopmentofamorespirituallybasedpoliticalsystem.

TheFourteenRockEdicts

REI

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Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,hascausedthisDhammaedicttobewritten.[1]Here(inmydomain)nolivingbeingsaretobeslaughteredorofferedinsacrifice.Norshouldfestivalsbeheld,forBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,seesmuchtoobjecttoinsuchfestivals,althoughtherearesomefestivalsthatBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,doesapproveof.

Formerly,inthekitchenofBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,hundredsofthousandsofanimalswerekilledeverydaytomakecurry.ButnowwiththewritingofthisDhammaedictonlythreecreatures,twopeacocksandadeerarekilled,andthedeernotalways.Andintime,noteventhesethreecreatureswillbekilled.

REII

Everywhere[2]withinBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi’sdomain,andamongthepeoplebeyondtheborders,theCoḷas,thePāṇḍyas,theSātiyaputras,theKeralaputras,asfarasTāmraparṇīandwheretheGreekkingAntiochosrules,andamongthekingswhoareneighboursofAntiochos,[3]everywherehasBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,madeprovisionfortwotypesofmedicaltreatment:medicaltreatment

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forhumansandmedicaltreatmentforanimals.Wherevermedicalherbssuitableforhumansoranimalsarenotavailable,Ihavehadthemimportedandgrown.WhereverrootsorfruitsarenotavailableIhavehadthembroughtandgrown.AlongroadsIhavehadwellsdugandtreesplantedforthebenefitofhumansandanimals.[4]

REIII

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:[5]Twelveyearsaftermycoronationthishasbeenordered—EverywhereinmydomaintheYuktas,theRajjukasandthePrādeśikasshallgooninspectiontourseveryfiveyearsforthepurposeofDhammainstructionandalsotoconductotherbusiness.[6]

Respectformotherandfatherisgood,generositytofriends,acquaintances,relatives,Brahmansandasceticsisgood;notkillinglivingbeingsisgood;moderationinspendingandmoderationinsavingisgood.

TheCouncilshallnotifytheYuktasabouttheobservanceoftheseinstructionsintheseverywords.

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REIV

Inthepast,formanyhundredsofyears,killingorharminglivingbeingsandimproperbehaviourtowardsrelatives,andimproperbehaviourtowardsBrahmansandasceticshasincreased.[7]ButnowduetoBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi’sDhammapractice,thesoundofthedrumhasbeenreplacedbythesoundoftheDhamma.[8]Thesightingofheavenlycars,auspiciouselephants,bodiesoffireandotherdivinesightingshasnothappenedformanyhundredsofyears.ButnowbecauseBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasipromotesrestraintinthekillingandharmingoflivingbeings,properbehaviourtowardsrelatives,Brahmansandascetics,andrespectformother,fatherandelders,suchsightingshaveincreased.[9]

TheseandmanyotherkindsofDhammapracticehavebeenencouragedbyBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,andhewillcontinuetopromoteDhammapractice.Andthesons,grandsonsandgreat-grandsonsofBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,toowillcontinuetopromoteDhammapracticeuntiltheendoftime;livingbyDhammaandvirtue,theywillinstructinDhamma.Truly,thisisthehighestwork,toinstructinDhamma.ButpracticingtheDhammacannotbedonebyonewhoisdevoidofvirtueand

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thereforeitspromotionandgrowthiscommendable.

Thisedicthasbeenwrittensothatitmaypleasemysuccessorstodevotethemselvestopromotingthesethingsandnotallowthemtodecline.Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,hashadthiswrittentwelveyearsafterhiscoronation.

REV

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:[10]Todogoodisdifficult.Onewhodoesgoodfirstdoessomethinghardtodo.Ihavedonemanygooddeeds,and,ifmysons,grandsonsandtheirdescendantsuptotheendoftheworldactinlikemanner,theytoowilldomuchgood.Butwhoeveramongstthemneglectsthis,theywilldoevil.Truly,itiseasytodoevil.[11]

InthepasttherewerenoDhammaMahāmātrasbutsuchofficerswereappointedbymethirteenyearsaftermycoronation.NowtheyworkamongallreligionsfortheestablishmentofDhamma,forthepromotionofDhamma,andforthewelfareandhappinessofallwhoaredevotedtoDhamma.TheyworkamongtheGreeks,theKāmbojas,theGandhāras,theRāshtrika-pairyānikasandother

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peoplesonthewesternborders.[12]Theyworkamongsoldiers,chiefs,Brahmans,householders,thepoor,theagedandthosedevotedtoDhamma—fortheirwelfareandhappiness—sothattheymaybefreefromharassment.They(DhammaMahāmātras)workforthepropertreatmentofprisoners,towardstheirunfettering,andiftheMahāmātrasthink,“Thisonehasafamilytosupport,”“Thatonehasbeenbewitched,”“Thisoneisold,”thentheyworkforthereleaseofsuchprisoners.Theyworkhere,inoutlyingtowns,inthewomen’squartersbelongingtomybrothersandsisters,andamongmyotherrelatives.Theyareoccupiedeverywhere.TheseDhammaMahāmātrasareoccupiedinmydomainamongpeopledevotedtoDhammatodeterminewhoisdevotedtoDhamma,whoisestablishedinDhamma,andwhoisgenerous.

ThisDhammaedicthasbeenwrittenonstonesothatitmightendurelongandthatmydescendantsmightactinconformitywithit.

REVI

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:[13]Inthepast,statebusinesswasnottransactednorwere

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reportsdeliveredtothekingatallhours.ButnowIhavegiventhisorder,thatatanytime,whetherIameating,inthewomen’squarters,thebedchamber,thechariot,thepalanquin,intheparkorwherever,reportersaretobepostedwithinstructionstoreporttometheaffairsofthepeoplesothatImightattendtotheseaffairswhereverIam.AndwhateverIorallyorderinconnectionwithdonationsorproclamations,orwhenurgentbusinesspressesitselfontheMahāmātras,ifdisagreementordebatearisesintheCouncil,thenitmustbereportedtomeimmediately.ThisiswhatIhaveordered.Iamnevercontentwithexertingmyselforwithdespatchingbusiness.Truly,Iconsiderthewelfareofalltobemyduty,andtherootofthisisexertionandthepromptdespatchofbusiness.ThereisnobetterworkthanpromotingthewelfareofallthepeopleandwhatevereffortsIammakingistorepaythedebtIowetoallbeingstoassuretheirhappinessinthislife,andattainheaveninthenext.

ThereforethisDhammaedicthasbeenwrittentolastlongandthatmysons,grandsonsandgreat-grandsonsmightactinconformitywithitforthewelfareoftheworld.However,thisisdifficulttodowithoutgreatexertion.

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REVII

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,desiresthatallreligionsshouldresideeverywhere,forallofthemdesireself-controlandpurityofheart.[14]Butpeoplehavevariousdesiresandvariouspassions,andtheymaypracticeallofwhattheyshouldoronlyapartofit.Butonewhoreceivesgreatgiftsyetislackinginself-control,purityofheart,gratitudeandfirmdevotion,suchapersonismean.

REIII

Inthepastkingsusedtogooutonpleasuretoursduringwhichtherewashuntingandotherentertainment.[15]ButtenyearsafterBeloved-of-the-Godshadbeencoronated,hewentonatourtoSambodhiandthusinstitutedDhammatours.[16]Duringthesetours,thefollowingthingstookplace:visitsandgiftstoBrahmansandascetics,visitsandgiftsofgoldtotheaged,visitstopeopleinthecountryside,instructingtheminDhamma,anddiscussingDhammawiththemasissuitable.ItisthisthatdelightsBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,and

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is,asitwere,anothertypeofrevenue.

REIX

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:[17]Intimesofsickness,forthemarriageofsonsanddaughters,atthebirthofchildren,beforeembarkingonajourney,ontheseandotheroccasions,peopleperformvariousceremonies.Womeninparticularperformmanyvulgarandworthlessceremonies.Thesetypesofceremoniescanbeperformedbyallmeans,buttheybearlittlefruit.Whatdoesbeargreatfruit,however,istheceremonyoftheDhamma.Thisinvolvesproperbehaviourtowardsservantsandemployees,respectforteachers,restrainttowardslivingbeings,andgenerositytowardsasceticsandBrahmans.TheseandotherthingsconstitutetheceremonyoftheDhamma.Thereforeafather,ason,abrother,amaster,afriend,acompanion,andevenaneighbourshouldsay:“Thisisgood,thisistheceremonythatshouldbeperformeduntilitspurposeisfulfilled,thisIshalldo.”[18]Otherceremoniesareofdoubtfulfruit,fortheymayachievetheirpurpose,ortheymaynot,andeveniftheydo,itisonlyinthisworld.ButtheceremonyoftheDhammaistimeless.Evenifitdoesnotachieveitspurposeinthisworld,it

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producesgreatmeritinthenext,whereasifitdoesachieveitspurposeinthisworld,onegetsgreatmeritbothhereandtherethroughtheceremonyoftheDhamma.

REX

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,doesnotconsidergloryandfametobeofgreataccountunlesstheyareachievedthroughhavingmysubjectsrespectDhammaandpracticeDhamma,bothnowandinthefuture.[19]ForthisalonedoesBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,desiregloryandfame.AndwhatevereffortsBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,ismaking,allofthatisonlyforthewelfareofthepeopleinthenextworld,andthattheywillhavelittleevil.Andbeingwithoutmeritisevil.Thisisdifficultforeitherahumblepersonoragreatpersontodoexceptwithgreateffort,andbygivingupotherinterests.Infact,itmaybeevenmoredifficultforagreatpersontodo.

REXI

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:[20]

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ThereisnogiftlikethegiftoftheDhamma,[21](noacquaintancelike)acquaintancewithDhamma,(nodistributionlike)distributionofDhamma,and(nokinshiplike)kinshipthroughDhamma.Anditconsistsofthis:properbehaviourtowardsservantsandemployees,respectformotherandfather,generositytofriends,companions,relations,Brahmansandascetics,andnotkillinglivingbeings.Thereforeafather,ason,abrother,amaster,afriend,acompanionoraneighbourshouldsay:“Thisisgood,thisshouldbedone.”OnebenefitsinthisworldandgainsgreatmeritinthenextbygivingthegiftoftheDhamma.

REXII

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,honoursbothasceticsandthehouseholdersofallreligions,andhehonoursthemwithgiftsandhonoursofvariouskinds.[22]ButBeloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,doesnotvaluegiftsandhonoursasmuchashevaluesthis—thatthereshouldbegrowthintheessentialsofallreligions.[23]Growthinessentialscanbedoneindifferentways,butallofthemhaveastheirrootrestraintinspeech,thatis,notpraisingone’sownreligion,orcondemningthereligionofotherswithout

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goodcause.Andifthereiscauseforcriticism,itshouldbedoneinamildway.Butitisbettertohonourotherreligionsforthisreason.Bysodoing,one’sownreligionbenefits,andsodootherreligions,whiledoingotherwiseharmsone’sownreligionandthereligionsofothers.Whoeverpraiseshisownreligion,duetoexcessivedevotion,andcondemnsotherswiththethought“Letmeglorifymyownreligion,”onlyharmshisownreligion.Thereforecontact(betweenreligions)isgood.[24]Oneshouldlistentoandrespectthedoctrinesprofessedbyothers.Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,desiresthatallshouldbewell-learnedinthegooddoctrinesofotherreligions.

Thosewhoarecontentwiththeirownreligionshouldbetoldthis:Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,doesnotvaluegiftsandhonoursasmuchashevaluesthatthereshouldbegrowthintheessentialsofallreligions.Andtothisendmanyareworking—DhammaMahāmātras,Mahāmātrasinchargeofthewomen’squarters,officersinchargeofoutlyingareas,andothersuchofficers.Andthefruitofthisisthatone’sownreligiongrowsandtheDhammaisilluminatedalso.

REXIII

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Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,conqueredtheKāliṅgaseightyearsafterhiscoronation.[25]Onehundredandfiftythousandweredeported,onehundredthousandwerekilledandmanymoredied(fromothercauses).AftertheKāliṅgashadbeenconquered,Beloved-of-the-GodscametofeelastronginclinationtowardstheDhamma,alovefortheDhammaandforinstructioninDhamma.NowBeloved-of-the-GodsfeelsdeepremorseforhavingconqueredtheKāliṅgas.

Indeed,Beloved-of-the-Godsisdeeplypainedbythekilling,dyinganddeportationthattakeplacewhenanunconqueredcountryisconquered.ButBeloved-of-the-Godsispainedevenmorebythis—thatBrahmans,ascetics,andhouseholdersofdifferentreligionswholiveinthosecountries,andwhoarerespectfultosuperiors,tomotherandfather,toelders,andwhobehaveproperlyandhavestrongloyaltytowardsfriends,acquaintances,companions,relatives,servantsandemployees—thattheyareinjured,killedorseparatedfromtheirlovedones.Eventhosewhoarenotaffected(byallthis)sufferwhentheyseefriends,acquaintances,companionsandrelativesaffected.Thesemisfortunesbefallall(asaresultofwar),andthispainsBeloved-of-the-Gods.

Thereisnocountry,exceptamongtheGreeks,wherethesetwogroups,Brahmansandascetics,arenot

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found,andthereisnocountrywherepeoplearenotdevotedtooneoranotherreligion.[26]Thereforethekilling,deathordeportationofahundredth,orevenathousandthpartofthosewhodiedduringtheconquestofKāliṅganowpainsBeloved-of-the-Gods.NowBeloved-of-the-Godsthinksthateventhosewhodowrongshouldbeforgivenwhereforgivenessispossible.

Eventheforestpeople,wholiveinBeloved-of-the-Gods’domain,areentreatedandreasonedwithtoactproperly.TheyaretoldthatdespitehisremorseBeloved-of-the-Godshasthepowertopunishthemifnecessary,sothattheyshouldbeashamedoftheirwrongandnotbekilled.Truly,Beloved-of-the-Godsdesiresnon-injury,restraintandimpartialitytoallbeings,evenwherewronghasbeendone.

NowitisconquestbyDhammathatBeloved-of-the-Godsconsiderstobethebestconquest.[27]Andit(conquestbyDhamma)hasbeenwonhere,ontheborders,evensixhundredyojanasaway,wheretheGreekkingAntiochosrules,beyondtherewherethefourkingsnamedPtolemy,Antigonos,MagasandAlexanderrule,likewiseinthesouthamongtheCoḷas,thePāṇḍyas,andasfarasTāmraparṇi.[28]HereintheKing’sdomainamongtheGreeks,theKāmbojas,theNābhakas,theNābhapanktis,theBhoja-paitryānikas,theAndhrasandthePaulindas,everywherepeople

27

arefollowingBeloved-of-the-Gods’instructionsinDhamma.EvenwhereBeloved-of-the-Gods’envoyshavenotbeen,thesepeopletoo,havingheardofthepracticeofDhammaandtheordinancesandinstructionsinDhammagivenbyBeloved-of-the-Gods,arefollowingitandwillcontinuetodoso.Thisconquesthasbeenwoneverywhere,anditgivesgreatjoy—thejoywhichonlyconquestbyDhammacangive.Buteventhisjoyisoflittleconsequence.Beloved-of-the-Godsconsidersthegreatfruittobeexperiencedinthenextworldtobemoreimportant.

IhavehadthisDhammaedictwrittensothatmysonsandgreat-grandsonsmaynotconsidermakingnewconquests,orthatifmilitaryconquestsaremade,thattheybedonewithforbearanceandlightpunishment,orbetterstill,thattheyconsidermakingconquestbyDhammaonly,forthatbearsfruitinthisworldandthenext.Mayalltheirintensedevotionbegiventothiswhichhasaresultinthisworldandthenext.

REXIV

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,hashadtheseDhammaedictswritteninbrief,inmediumlength,andinextendedform.[29]Notallofthemoccur

28

everywhere,formydomainisvast,butmuchhasbeenwritten,andIwillhavestillmorewritten.Andalsotherearesomesubjectsherethathavebeenspokenofagainandagainbecauseoftheirsweetness,andsothatthepeoplemayactinaccordancewiththem.Ifsomethingswrittenareincomplete,thisisbecauseofthelocality,orinconsiderationoftheobject,orduetothefaultofthescribe.

TheKāliṅgaRockEdicts

SREI/REXVI

Beloved-of-the-GodssaysthattheMahāmātrasofTosalīwhoarejudicialofficersinthecityaretobetoldthis:[30]IwishtoseethateverythingIconsidertobeproperiscarriedoutintherightway.AndIconsiderinstructingyoutobethebestwayofaccomplishingthis.Ihaveplacedyouovermanythousandsofpeoplethatyoumaywinthepeople’saffection.

Allmenaremychildren.WhatIdesireformyown

29

children,andIdesiretheirwelfareandhappinessbothinthisworldandthenext,thatIdesireforallmen.YoudonotunderstandtowhatextentIdesirethis,andifsomeofyoudounderstand,youdonotunderstandthefullextentofmydesire.

Youmustattendtothismatter.Whilebeingcompletelylaw-abiding,somepeopleareimprisoned,treatedharshlyandevenkilledwithoutcausesothatmanypeoplesuffer.Thereforeyouraimshouldbetoactwithimpartiality.Itisbecauseofthesethings—envy,anger,cruelty,hate,indifference,lazinessortiredness—thatsuchathingdoesnothappen.Thereforeyouraimshouldbe:“Maythesethingsnotbeinme.”Andtherootofthisisnon-angerandpatience.Thosewhoareboredwiththeadministrationofjusticewillnotbepromoted;(thosewhoarenot)willmoveupwardsandbepromoted.Whoeveramongyouunderstandsthisshouldsaytohiscolleagues:“Seethatyoudoyourdutyproperly.SuchandsuchareBeloved-of-the-Gods’instructions.”Greatfruitwillresultfromdoingyourduty,whilefailinginitwillresultingainingneitherheavennortheking’spleasure.Failureindutyonyourpartwillnotpleaseme.Butdoneproperly,itwillwinyouheavenandyouwillbedischargingyourdebtstome.

ThisedictistobelistenedtoonTiṣyaconstellationday,betweenTiṣyadays,andonothersuitable

30

occasions,itshouldbelistenedtoevenbyasingleperson.Actingthus,youwillbedoingyourduty.

Thisedicthasbeenwrittenforthefollowingpurpose:thatthejudicialofficersofthecitymaystrivetodotheirdutyandthatthepeopleunderthemmightnotsufferunjustimprisonmentorharshtreatment.Toachievethis,IwillsendoutMahāmātraseveryfiveyearswhoarenotharshorcruel,butwhoaremercifulandwhocanascertainifthejudicialofficershaveunderstoodmypurposeandareactingaccordingtomyinstructions.Similarly,fromUjjayinī,theprincewillsendsimilarpersonswiththesamepurposewithoutallowingthreeyearstoelapse.LikewisefromTakhaṣilāalso.WhentheseMahāmātrasgoontoursofinspectioneachyear,thenwithoutneglectingtheirnormalduties,theywillascertainifjudicialofficersareactingaccordingtotheking’sinstructions.

SREII/REXV

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:[31]ThisroyalorderistobeaddressedtotheMahāmātrasatSamāpā.IwishtoseethateverythingIconsidertobeproperiscarriedoutintherightway.AndIconsiderinstructingyoutobethebestwayofaccomplishing

31

this.Allmenaremychildren.WhatIdesireformyownchildren,andIdesiretheirwelfareandhappinessbothinthisworldandthenext,thatIdesireforallmen.[32]

Thepeopleoftheunconqueredterritoriesbeyondthebordersmightthink:“Whataretheking’sintentionstowardsus?”Myonlyintentionisthattheylivewithoutfearofme,thattheymaytrustmeandthatImaygivethemhappiness,notsorrow.Furthermore,theyshouldunderstandthatthekingwillforgivethosewhocanbeforgiven,andthathewishestoencouragethemtopracticeDhammasothattheymayattainhappinessinthisworldandthenext.IamtellingyouthissothatImaydischargethedebtsIowe,andthatininstructingyou,thatyoumayknowthatmyvowandmypromisewillnotbebroken.Thereforeactinginthisway,youshouldperformyourdutiesandassurethem(thepeoplebeyondtheborders)that:“Thekingislikeafather.Hefeelstowardsusashefeelstowardshimself.Wearetohimlikehisownchildren.”

ByinstructingyouandinformingyouofmyvowandmypromiseIshallbeapplyingmyselfincompletefullnesstoachievingthisobject.Youareableindeedtoinspirethemwithconfidenceandtosecuretheirwelfareandhappinessinthisworldandthenext,andbyactingthus,youwillattainheavenaswellas

32

dischargethedebtsyouowetome.AndsothattheMahāmātrascandevotethemselvesatalltimestoinspiringtheborderareaswithconfidenceandencouragingthemtopracticeDhamma,thisedicthasbeenwrittenhere.

ThisedictistobelistenedtoeveryfourmonthsonTiṣyaconstellationday,betweenTiśyadays,andonothersuitableoccasions,itshouldbelistenedtoevenbyasingleperson.Actingthus,youwillbedoingyourduty.

MinorRockEdicts

MREI

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:[33]ItisnowmorethantwoandahalfyearssinceIbecamealay-disciple,butuntilnowIhavenotbeenveryzealous.[34]ButnowthatIhavevisitedtheSanghaformorethanayear,Ihavebecomeveryzealous.NowthepeopleinIndiawhohavenotassociatedwiththegodsdoso.

33

Thisistheresultofzealanditisnotjustthegreatwhocandothis.Eventhehumble,iftheyarezealous,canattainheaven.Andthisproclamationhasbeenmadewiththisaim.Letbothhumbleandgreatbezealous,leteventhoseonthebordersknowandletzeallastlong.Thenthiszealwillincrease,itwillgreatlyincrease,itwillincreaseuptoone-and-a-halftimes.Thismessagehasbeenproclaimedtwohundredandfifty-sixtimesbythekingwhileontour.

MREII

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:[35]Fatherandmothershouldberespectedandsoshouldelders,kindnesstolivingbeingsshouldbemadestrongandthetruthshouldbespoken.Intheseways,theDhammashouldbepromoted.Likewise,ateachershouldbehonouredbyhispupilandpropermannersshouldbeshowntowardsrelations.Thisisanancientrulethatconducestolonglife.Thusshouldoneact.WrittenbythescribeChapala.

MREIII

34

Piyadasi,KingofMagadha,salutingtheSanghaandwishingthemgoodhealthandhappiness,speaksthus:[36]Youknow,reverendsirs,howgreatmyfaithintheBuddha,theDhammaandSanghais.Whatever,reverendsirs,hasbeenspokenbyLordBuddha,allthatiswell-spoken.[37]Iconsideritproper,reverendsirs,toadviseonhowthegoodDhammashouldlastlong.

TheseDhammatexts—ExtractsfromtheDiscipline,theNobleWayofLife,theFearstoCome,thePoemontheSilentSage,theDiscourseonthePureLife,Upatisa’sQuestions,andtheAdvicetoRāhulawhichwasspokenbytheBuddhaconcerningfalsespeech—theseDhammatexts,reverendsirs,Idesirethatallthemonksandnunsmayconstantlylistentoandremember.[38]Likewisethelaymenandlaywomen.Ihavehadthiswrittenthatyoumayknowmyintentions.

TheSevenPillarEdicts

PEI

35

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:[39]ThisDhammaedictwaswrittentwenty-sixyearsaftermycoronation.HappinessinthisworldandthenextisdifficulttoobtainwithoutmuchlovefortheDhamma,muchself-examination,muchrespect,muchfear(ofevil),andmuchenthusiasm.ButthroughmyinstructionthisregardforDhammaandloveofDhammahasgrowndaybyday,andwillcontinuetogrow.Andmyofficersofhigh,lowandmiddlerankarepracticingandconformingtoDhamma,andarecapableofinspiringotherstodothesame.Mahāmātrasinborderareasaredoingthesame.Andthesearemyinstructions:toprotectwithDhamma,toregulatewithDhamma,tomakehappinessthroughDhammaandtoguardwithDhamma.

PEII

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:Dhammaisgood,butwhatconstitutesDhamma?(Itincludes)littleevil,muchgood,kindness,generosity,truthfulnessandpurity.Ihavegiventhegiftofsightinvariousways.[40]Totwo-footedandfour-footedbeings,tobirdsandaquaticanimals,Ihavegivenvariousthingsincludingthegiftoflife.Andmanyothergooddeedshavebeendonebyme.

36

ThisDhammaedicthasbeenwrittenthatpeoplemightfollowitanditmightendureforalongtime.Andtheonewhofollowsitproperlywilldosomethinggood.

PEIII

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:Peopleseeonlytheirgooddeedssaying,“Ihavedonethisgooddeed.”Buttheydonotseetheirevildeedssaying,“Ihavedonethisevildeed”or“Thisiscalledevil.”Butthis(tendency)isdifficulttosee.[41]Oneshouldthinklikethis:“Itisthesethingsthatleadtoevil,toviolence,tocruelty,anger,prideandjealousy.Letmenotruinmyselfwiththesethings.”Andfurther,oneshouldthink:“Thisleadstohappinessinthisworldandthenext.”

PEIV

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:ThisDhammaedictwaswrittentwenty-sixyearsaftermycoronation.MyRajjukasareworkingamongthepeople,amongmanyhundredsofthousandsofpeople.Thehearingof

37

petitionsandtheadministrationofjusticehasbeenlefttothemsothattheycandotheirdutiesconfidentlyandfearlesslyandsothattheycanworkforthewelfare,happinessandbenefitofthepeopleinthecountry.Buttheyshouldrememberwhatcauseshappinessandsorrow,andbeingthemselvesdevotedtoDhamma,theyshouldencouragethepeopleinthecountry(todothesame),thattheymayattainhappinessinthisworldandthenext.TheseRajjukasareeagertoserveme.Theyalsoobeyotherofficerswhoknowmydesires,whoinstructtheRajjukassothattheycanpleaseme.Justasapersonfeelsconfidenthavingentrustedhischildtoanexpertnursethinking:“Thenursewillkeepmychildwell,”evenso,theRajjukashavebeenappointedbymeforthewelfareandhappinessofthepeopleinthecountry.

ThehearingofpetitionsandtheadministrationofjusticehavebeenlefttotheRajjukassothattheycandotheirdutiesunperturbed,fearlesslyandconfidently.Itismydesirethatthereshouldbeuniformityinlawanduniformityinsentencing.Ievengothisfar,tograntathree-daystayforthoseinprisonwhohavebeentriedandsentencedtodeath.Duringthistimetheirrelativescanmakeappealstohavetheprisoners’livesspared.Ifthereisnonetoappealontheirbehalf,theprisonerscangivegiftsinordertomakemeritforthenextworld,orobservefasts.

38

Indeed,itismywishthatinthisway,evenifaprisoner’stimeislimited,hecanprepareforthenextworld,andthatpeople’sDhammapractice,self-controlandgenerositymaygrow.

PEV

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:Twenty-sixyearsaftermycoronationvariousanimalsweredeclaredtobeprotected—parrots,mynas,ruddygeese,swans,combducks,mountainducks,bats,queenants,terrapins,bonelessfish,hoodlesssnakes,Gangeticdolphins,skates,tortoises,porcupines,squirrels,deer,freedbulls,householdpets,wildasses,wildpigeons,domesticpigeonsandallfour-footedcreaturesthatareneitherusefulnoredible.[42]Thosenannygoats,ewesandsowswhicharewithyoungorgivingmilktotheiryoungareprotected,andsoareyoungoneslessthansixmonthsold.Cocksarenottobecaponized,huskshidinglivingbeingsarenottobeburntandforestsarenottobeburnteitherwithoutreasonortokillcreatures.Oneanimalisnottobefedtoanother.Onthethreefourth-month[fullmoonfestival]days,thethreedaysoftheTiṣyaconstellationandduringtheUposathaonthe[darkandfullmoononthe]fourteenthorfifteenth[dayofthefortnight],

39

fishareprotectedandnottobesold.Duringthesedaysanimalsarenottobekilledintheelephantreservesorthefishreserveseither.Ontheeighthofeveryfortnight[ofthemoon-cycle],onthefourteenthandfifteenth[dayofthefortnight],onthedayoftheTiṣyaconstellation,Punarvasulunarmansion,thethreefourth-monthdaysandotherauspiciousdays,bullsarenottobecastrated,billygoats,rams,boarsandotheranimalsthatareusuallycastratedarenottobe.OnTiṣyaconstellationdays,Punarvasulunarmansionday,thefourth-monthfull-anddark-moonday,horsesandbullocksarenotbebranded.

Inthetwenty-sixyearssincemycoronationprisonershavebeengivenamnestyontwenty-fiveoccasions.

PEVI

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:TwelveyearsaftermycoronationIstartedtohaveDhammaedictswrittenforthewelfareandhappinessofthepeople,andsothatnottransgressingthemtheymightgrowintheDhamma.Thinking:“Howcanthewelfareandhappinessofthepeoplebesecured?”Igiveattentiontomyrelatives,tothosedwellingnearandthosedwellingfar,soIcanleadthemtohappinessandthen

40

Iactaccordingly.Idothesameforallgroups.Ihavehonouredallreligionswithvarioushonours.ButIconsideritbesttomeetwithpeoplepersonally.

ThisDhammaedictwaswrittentwenty-sixyearsaftermycoronation.

PEVII

Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:InthepastkingsdesiredthatthepeoplemightgrowthroughthepromotionoftheDhamma.Butdespitethis,peopledidnotgrowthroughthepromotionoftheDhamma.Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,saidconcerningthis:“ItoccurstomethatinthepastkingsdesiredthatthepeoplemightgrowthroughthepromotionoftheDhamma.Butdespitethis,peopledidnotgrowthroughthepromotionoftheDhamma.Nowhowcanthepeoplebeencouragedtofollowit?HowcanthepeoplebeencouragedtogrowthroughthepromotionoftheDhamma?HowcanIelevatethembypromotingtheDhamma?”Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,furthersaidconcerningthis:“ItoccurstomethatIshallhaveproclamationsonDhammaannouncedandinstructiononDhammagiven.Whenpeoplehearthese,theywillfollowthem,elevate

41

themselvesandgrowconsiderablythroughthepromotionoftheDhamma.”ItisforthispurposethatproclamationsonDhammahavebeenannouncedandvariousinstructionsonDhammahavebeengivenandthatofficerswhoworkamongmanypromoteandexplainthemindetail.TheRajjukaswhoworkamonghundredsofthousandsofpeoplehavelikewisebeenordered:“InthiswayandthatencouragethosewhoaredevotedtoDhamma.”Beloved-of-the-Godsspeaksthus:“Havingthisobjectinview,IhavesetupDhammapillars,appointedDhammaMahāmātras,andannouncedDhammaproclamations.”

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,says:AlongroadsIhavehadbanyantreesplantedsothattheycangiveshadetoanimalsandmen,andIhavehadmangogrovesplanted.Atintervalsofeightkrośas,Ihavehadwellsdug,rest-housesbuilt,andinvariousplaces,Ihavehadwatering-placesmadefortheuseofanimalsandmen.Butthesearebutminorachievements.Suchthingstomakethepeoplehappyhavebeendonebyformerkings.Ihavedonethesethingsforthispurpose,thatthepeoplemightpracticetheDhamma.

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:MyDhammaMahāmātrastooareoccupiedwithvariousgoodworksamongtheasceticsandhouseholdersofallreligions.IhaveorderedthattheyshouldbeoccupiedwiththeaffairsoftheSangha.Ihavealso

42

orderedthattheyshouldbeoccupiedwiththeaffairsoftheBrahmansandtheĀjīvikas.IhaveorderedthattheybeoccupiedwiththeNigaṇṭhas.[43]Infact,IhaveorderedthatdifferentMahāmātrasbeoccupiedwiththeparticularaffairsofalldifferentreligions.AndmyDhammaMahāmātraslikewiseareoccupiedwiththeseandotherreligions.

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:Theseandotherprincipalofficersareoccupiedwiththedistributionofgifts,mineaswellasthoseofthequeens.Inmywomen’squarters,theyorganizevariouscharitableactivitieshereandintheprovinces.IhavealsoorderedmysonsandthesonsofotherqueenstodistributegiftssothatnobledeedsofDhammaandthepracticeofDhammamaybepromoted.AndnobledeedsofDhammaandthepracticeofDhammaconsistofhavingkindness,generosity,truthfulness,purity,gentlenessandgoodnessincreaseamongthepeople.

Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:Whatevergooddeedshavebeendonebyme,thosethepeopleacceptandthosetheyfollow.Thereforetheyhaveprogressedandwillcontinuetoprogressbybeingrespectfultomotherandfather,respectfultoelders,bycourtesytotheagedandproperbehaviortowardsBrahmansandascetics,towardsthepooranddistressed,andeventowardsservantsandemployees.

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Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,speaksthus:ThisprogressamongthepeoplethroughDhammahasbeendonebytwomeans,byDhammaregulationsandbypersuasion.Ofthese,Dhammaregulationisoflittleeffect,whilepersuasionhasmuchmoreeffect.TheDhammaregulationsIhavegivenarethatvariousanimalsmustbeprotected.AndIhavegivenmanyotherDhammaregulationsalso.ButitisbypersuasionthatprogressamongthepeoplethroughDhammahashadagreatereffectinrespectofharmlessnesstolivingbeingsandnon-killingoflivingbeings.

Concerningthis,Beloved-of-the-Godssays:Wherevertherearestonepillarsorstoneslabs,therethisDhammaedictistobeengravedsothatitmaylongendure.Ithasbeenengravedsothatitmayendureaslongasmysonsandgreat-grandsonsliveandaslongasthesunandthemoonshine,andsothatpeoplemaypracticeitasinstructed.Forbypracticingithappinesswillbeattainedinthisworldandthenext.

ThisDhammaedicthasbeenwrittenbymetwenty-sevenyearsaftermycoronation.

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TheMinorPillarEdicts

1

Twentyyearsafterhiscoronation,Beloved-of-the-Gods,KingPiyadasi,visitedthisplaceandworshippedbecauseheretheBuddha,thesageoftheSakyans,wasborn.[44]HehadastonefigureandapillarsetupandbecausetheLordwasbornhere,thevillageofLumbinīwasexemptedfromtaxandrequiredtopayonlyoneeighthoftheproduce.

2

Beloved-of-the-Godscommands:[45]TheMahāmātrasatKosambī(aretobetold:WhoeversplitstheSangha)whichisnowunited,isnottobeadmittedintotheSangha.Whoever,whethermonkornun,splitstheSanghaistobemadetowearwhiteclothesandtoresidesomewhereotherthaninamonastery.[46]

45

Bibliography

D.R.Bhandarkar,Asoka.Calcutta,1955.

R.Mookerji,Asoka.Delhi,1962.

A.Sen,Asoka’sEdicts.Calcutta,1956.

A.Seneviratna(editor),KingAsokaandBuddhism.Kandy,1993.

D.C.Sircar,InscriptionsofAsoka.Delhi,1957.

Notes

1. Girnarversionissuedin257CEThesefourteenedicts,withminordifferences,arefoundinfivedifferentplacesthroughoutIndia.Intwootherplaces,theyarefoundminusnumbers11,12and13.

2. Girnarversion,issuedin257CE

3. TheCoḷasandPāṇḍyasweresouthIndianpeopleslivingoutsideAsoka'sempire.TheSātiyaputrasand

46

KeralaputraslivedonthesouthwestseaboardofIndia.TāmraparṇīisoneoftheancientnamesforSriLanka.OnAntiochosseeNote28.

4. Bysodoing,AsokawasfollowingtheadvicegivenbytheBuddhaatSaṃyuttaNikāya,SI33.


6. Theexactdutiesoftheseroyalofficersarenotknown.


8. Thisprobablyreferstothedrumthatwasbeatentoannouncethepunishmentoflawbreakers.SeeSaṃyuttaNikāya,SIV244.

9. Likemanypeopleintheancientworld,Asokabelievedthatwhenajustkingruled,therewouldbemanyauspiciousportents.

10. Kalsiversion,issuedin256CE.

11. ThisseemstobeaparaphraseofDhammapada163.

12. TheGreeks(Yona)settledinlargenumbersinwhatisnowAfghanistanandPakistanaftertheconquestsofAlexandertheGreat,althoughsmallcommunitieslivedtherepriortothis.

13. Girnarversion,issuedin256CE.

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16. BodhGayā,thesiteoftheBuddha’senlightenment(sambodhi),wasknowninancienttimesaseitherSambodhiorVajirāsana(“DiamondSeat”).

17. Kalsiversion,issuedin256CE.AsokaobviouslyhadtheMaṅgalaSutta(SuttaNipāta258–269)inmindwhenheissuedthisedict.Thewordheretranslatedasceremonyismaṅgala.

18. Otherversionssubstitutethefollowinguptotheendoftheedict.



21. SimilartoDhammapada354.


23. Asokaprobablybelievedthattheessentials(sarāvaḍhī)ofallreligionsweretheirethicalprinciples.

24. (Tasamavāyoevasādhu).Thissentenceisusuallytranslated“Thereforeconcordiscommendable.”Samavāyohowevercomesfromsam+ava+i,“tocometogether.”

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25. Kalsiversion,issuedin256CE.KāliṅgacorrespondsroughlytothemodernstateofOrissa.

26. TheBuddhapointedoutthatthefourcastesofIndiansocietylikewisewerenotfoundamongtheGreeks;seeMajjhimaNikaya,II:149.

27. PerhapsAsokahadinmindDhammapada103–104.

28. AntiochosIITheosofSyria(261–246CE),PtolemyIIPhiladelphosofEgypt(285–247CE),AntigonosGonatosofMacedonia(278–239CE),MagasofCyrene(300–258CE)andAlexanderofEpirus(272–258CE).

29. Girnarversion,issuedin256B.C.

30. Dhauliversion,issuedin256B.C.Thesetwoedictsarefoundintwodifferentplaces.

31. Dhauliversion,issuedin256B.C.

32. ThisisreminiscentoftheBuddha’swords:“Justasamotherwouldprotectheronlychildevenattheriskofherownlife,evenso,letonecultivateaboundlesshearttowardsallbeings.”SuttaNipāta149.

33. Gavimathversion,issuedin257B.C.Thisedictisfoundintwelvedifferentplaces.

34. FirstAsokawasalay-disciple(upāsaka)andthen

49

hevisitedorliterally“wenttotheSangha”(yaṃmayāsaṃgheupayīte).SomescholarsthinkthismeansthatAsokabecameamonk.HoweveritprobablymeansthathestartedvisitingBuddhistmonksmoreoftenandlisteningtotheirinstructionsmorecarefully.

35. Brahmagiriversion.

36. ThisedictwasfoundinscribedonasmallrocknearthetownofBairatandisnowhousedattheAsiaticSocietyinCalcutta.Itsdateisnotknown.

37. ThissentenceistheconverseofasimilaroneintheTipiṭaka:“...thatwhichiswell-spokenisthewordsoftheLord.”AṅguttaraNikāya,AIV164.

38. ThereisdisagreementamongstscholarsconcerningwhichPalisuttascorrespondtosomeofthetext.

Vinaya-samukase:probablytheAtthavasaVagga,AṅguttaraNikāya,A198–100.

Aliya-vasāni:eithertheAriyavaṃsaSutta,AṅguttaraNikāya,AV29,ortheAriyavaṃsaSutta,AṅguttaraNikāya,II:27–28.Anāgatabhayāni:probablytheAnāgataSutta,AṅguttaraNikāya,AIII100.

Munigāthā:MuniSutta,SuttaNipāta,Sn207–221.Moneyasūta:Nālakasutta,SuttaNipāta,Sn684–704;orMoneyyasutta,AṅguttaraNikāya,AI273/Itivuttaka,

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It56.Upatisapasine:SāriputtaSutta,SuttaNipāta,Sn955–975.Lāghulavāde:RāhulovadaSutta,MajjhimaNikāya,MI421.

39. ThefollowingsevenedictsarefromtheDelhiTopraversion,thefirstsixbeingissuedin243B.C.andtheseventhin242B.C.Thefirstsixedictsalsoappearonfiveotherpillars.

40. Cakhu-dāne.Themeaningisunclear.ItmaymeanthatAsokahasgiven“theeyeofwisdom,”buttakingintoaccountthecontext,itmorelikelymeanshehasstoppedblindingasaformofpunishment.

41. SimilartotheideasexpressedbytheBuddhainDhammapada50and252.

42. Theidentificationofmanyoftheseanimalsisconjectural.

43. TheĀjīvikaswereasectofasceticsinancientIndiaestablishedbyMakkhaliGosāla,acontemporaryoftheBuddha.TheNigaṇṭhasaretheJains.

44. ThisinscriptionisfoundonapillarinLumbinīwheretheBuddhawasborn.Itwasissuedin249B.C.,probablyatthetimeofAsoka’svisittotheplace.

45. Allahabadversion,dateofissuenotknown.Thewordsinbracketsaremissingduetodamageonthe

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pillar,buttheycanbereconstructedfromthethreeotherversionsofthisedict.

46. Thewhiteclothesofthelayfollowersratherthantheyellowrobeofamonkornun.

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THEBUDDHISTPUBLICATIONSOCIETY

TheBPSisanapprovedcharitydedicatedtomakingknowntheTeachingoftheBuddha,whichhasavitalmessageforallpeople.

Foundedin1958,theBPShaspublishedawidevarietyofbooksandbookletscoveringagreatrangeoftopics.ItspublicationsincludeaccurateannotatedtranslationsoftheBuddha’sdiscourses,standardreferenceworks,aswellasoriginalcontemporaryexpositionsofBuddhistthoughtandpractice.TheseworkspresentBuddhismasittrulyis—adynamicforcewhichhasinfluencedreceptivemindsforthepast2500yearsandisstillasrelevanttodayasitwaswhenitfirstarose.

FormoreinformationabouttheBPSandourpublications,pleasevisitourwebsite,orwriteane-mailoralettertothe:

AdministrativeSecretaryBuddhistPublicationSocietyP.O.Box61•54SangharajaMawathaKandy•SriLankaE-mail:[email protected]•website:http://www.bps.lk

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Tel:0094812237283•Fax:0094812223679

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TableofContents

TheEdictsofKingAsoka 2Contents 4Preface 4Introduction 5TheFourteenRockEdicts 14

REI 14REII 15REIII 16REIV 17REV 18REVI 19REVII 21REIII 21REIX 22REX 23REXI 23REXII 24REXIII 25REXIV 28

TheKāliṅgaRockEdicts 29SREI/REXVI 29SREII/REXV 31

MinorRockEdicts 33MREI 33

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MREII 34MREIII 34

TheSevenPillarEdicts 35PEI 35PEII 36PEIII 37PEIV 37PEV 39PEVI 40PEVII 41

TheMinorPillarEdicts 452 45

Bibliography 46Notes 46

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The Edicts of King

Documents

Transcript of The Edicts of King