Indian Antiquary Vol 07

SR No.: 032499
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 386
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

Page 179

JUNE, 1878.]
THE THREE NEW EDICTS OF ASOKA.
145
great value if taken as a link in the long chain the edicts not only contain something connecting of circumstantial evidence which connects the them with Asoka, but that they furnish as inscriptions with A soka. The same remarks strong proof as circumstantial evidence can apply to the alphabet used. Other kings be- afford that they actually proceeded from the sides Asoka did use it, and its occurrence in the great Maurya Buddhist. new edicts shows only, like the title Devándpiye, As regards the question whether the edicts the period to which the inscriptions belong. It contain any Buddhist terms, I will point out may also be contended that other kings besides one word, which my critics have overlooked, Asoka used some of the words and the gram- viz, ahale (R. 5). I have translated this by matical forms occurring in the two edicts. We thought,' relying on the explanation of dhara have some evidence to this effect in the Khand- given in Childers' Pali Dictionary." I do not giri and the Dasaratha inscriptions, and the think that the passage can be taken otherwise supposition is not more than reasonable. But than I have done, and the silence of my critics with respect to the peculiar turns of expression seems to indicate that they agree with me. and the style of the inscriptions, the same But if that is so, then ahale is a specially Budreasoning does not hold good. The style of a dhistio word, which in this sense has been man reveals, as is generally allowed, his indivi. traced neither in Brahmanical nor in Jaina books. duality as much as his handwriting or his The matter is, however, of small importance. general deportment. If, therefore, particular For, as the inscriptions belong to Asoka, all the resemblances in this respect are observable be- doubtful terms must be Buddhistic. Upasaka tween two sets of compositions, something more and sdunka must mean'a lay Buddhist," definite than a vague assertion that others too saingha must denote the community of Buddhist may have employed phrases like Devánári piye ascetics, and the Vivutha or Vyutha, whatever havari dha, vipule stage sakiye aradhave or iya the etymology of the words may be, must be pakdre kiti chirathitike siya, is required in order Sakyamuni-Gautama. to preclude the obvions inference to be drawn In turning to the consideration of Professor fron their occurrence in both. In like manner, Pischel's criticisms on my explanation of these there is only one way to account for the fact two terms, I must premise that I fully agree that both sets of edicts contain sermons preach. with his assertion that Sanskrit vyushita and ed by a ruler of "all the Indias" to his subjects, vyushta phonetically correspond to vivutha and and that both give original texts, different re- vyutha. I may add that this phonetic corredactions of which were placarded, so to say, in spondence was known to me from Childers' Pali different places and dialects on "rocks and Dictionary when I wrote my first article, as pillars" for the enlightenment of the multitude. well as the phonetic identity of Sanskrit We have many hundreds of Indian inscriptions, vyuttha (vi+ut+sthá+a) with the same two issued by hundreds of different kings, but there terms of the edicts, and that several scholars is not one document which resembles Asoka's had pointed it out to me before Professor Pisedicts in this respect, and there is not one king chel's letter appeared. But I must demur to who tried to convert his subjects to a particular Prof. Pischel's statement that, on account of creed, and to keep them in the paths of virtue this phonetic identity, my explanation is "quite and morality by means of affiches officielles. untenable." For, considering the fact that PraHere, too, the individuality of the author reveals krit words are corruptions, which may have itself, and, as long as it is not shown that others originated in many ways, and that all Prakrits, besides Asoka actually adopted the same plan, but especially those used in the inscriptions, the resemblance of the two sets of edicts in frequently show a want of fixedness both as to this respect admits only of one explanation, orthography and grammar, phonetic identity is viz. that they belong to the same author. If, neither the only nor even the chief point to now, the other points mentioned above, the look to in the interpretation of doubtful words. identity of the alphabet, of the vocabulary and In attempting to explain Vivuthend and Vyugrammar, and of the author's title, are taken into thend, the correct method is to begin, not with account, it is, I think, not too much to say that the etymology, but with the sentence duve
See also Sp. Hardy, Manual, pp. 499, 500.