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ADMINISTRATION OF KALINGA
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much light on the problem whether the Kumāras in-charge of Viceroyalties were Aśoka's sons. It is evident from the Mahāvarhsal alone that Asoka's brothers, brother's sons, sister's sons and his own sons were entitled to the designation of Kumāra. Mookerji' says—“Where Aśoka refers to his own sons and descendants, he uses the expression "putrā cha potrā cha prapotrā cha devānam priyasu” (RE IV, Girnar version) or "me putrā potā cha prapotrā cha" (RE VI, Girnar version). Thus the princes, that are referred to here as Viceroys, must be taken to be Asoka's brothers and not his sons." That one of his brothers named Tissa was appointed as his Viceroy in 270 B.C. and continued as such upto 266 B.C., is confirmed by the evidence of the Mahavamsa.? The households of Asoka and those of his brothers, sisters and other kith and kin, situated at Patliputra and in outlying towns, are mentioned in RE V in connection with the distribution of charities, and the same as to his sons and other princes of the royal blood are mentioned in PE VII. Unless his brothers were then alive-atleast some of them, and held important positions, it would be difficult to account for the prominence accorded to them here. The Ceylonese tradition, as narrated in the Dipavaiša and the Mahāvamsa,“ describes Bindusāra possessing 16 wives and 101 sons, of whom only three are named, viz., Sumana (or Susīına), Asoka and Tishya. The Divyāvadāna" which does not mention the total number of Bindusāra's sons describes the war of succession as between two brothers-Sumana and Aśoka ; while the Pali legends, that give the total number, describe it as one between Asoka on the one side and a coalition
1. Chap. v. 2. Asoka, p. 121. 3. V, 33, 171 & 201-2; Qtd. Mookerji, Ibid, 4. Mookerji, Asoka, pp. 2-4. 5. Ch. XXVI.
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