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Corroboration of the Conclusion
127
during the period Asoka was a monk, he must have ceased. to be a monarch, for monastic life is hardly compatible with royal duties. Others, however, point out actual examples of kings who were monks at the same time and find no reason for the assumption that Asoka, even temporarily abdicated the throne.
“Whatever may be the right interpretation of this association with the Sangha, there is no doubt that since this event, Aśoka exerted himself with unflagging zeal for the propagation of Buddhism, or at least that part of it which he accepted as his Dharma. He not only set up a net-work of missions to preach the doctrine both in and outside India, but himself undertook tours for this purpose and took various other steps to the same end.'
Dr. Mukherjee has not emphasised a particular view regarding the interpretation of the expression, Saṁghe upete. Nevertheless, it is easily understood, even by glancing at the different interpretations, that the event of Asoka's “Sanghe upete” is related with his historical religious tour or pilgrimage, which is explicitly mentioned even in Asoka's own edicts. In the Rummindei Pillar Edict, Asoka writes :: “Devān piyena piyadasin lājina visati vasābhisitena atana āgā ca mahīyite ! hiya budhe jāte sakya munīti silāvigaļa bhīvā kālāpita silāthame ca usa papi te hiya bhagavam jāte ti luminigāme uvalike kațe athabhāgiye ca?.”
It means, "His Sacred and Gracious Majesty the King, when he had been consecrated twenty years, having come in person, did reverence; and because “Here Buddha was
1. Asoka ke Dharamā-lekha, by Janradan Bhatt. 2. Asoka, by Vincent A. Smith, p. 199.
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