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DATE (TITHI) OF THE STARTING OF ASOKA'S DHARMALIPI
79
been (sumi -asmi) intimately associated with the Sangha (i. e., the Buddhist Clergy) and have been (sumi=asmi) excessively energetic in the cause of Dharma)."1
He says further :
“A study of all the versions of the Edict together leaves no room for doubt : (1) that the earlier stage of Asoka's upāsakatva, not characterized
by vigorous exertion on his part, lasted for one year, (2) that the second stage, when he was zealously exerting himself
lasted for more than a year, and that the two periods together covered more than two years and a half.”2
ELUCIDATION OF KNOWN POINTS The Minor Rock Edict I puts before us the following points regar. ding the period of Asoka's early upāsakatva :
i. The first stage of Asoka's early upāsakatva, which was a period of inactivity, lasted for 'one years.
ii. The second stage of Asoka's early upāsakatva, wbich was a period of exertion (parākrama ), lasted for 'over one year'.
iii. The total of the two periods is stated by Aśoka to be more than two year and a half.'
iv. The second period, that is, the period of exertion, may be subdivided into two smaller parts as may be inferred from this edict itself namely, early exertion period (whose duration is not stated), and later exertion period or period of vivāsa (tour of pilgrimage) till the time of the declaration (śrävara) contained in MRE I whose duration is stated to be 256 nights'.
v. The duration of the early exertion period is not stated but may be found out by deducting the later exertion period (whose exact duration is 256 nights') from the entire exertion period stated by Aśoka to last for ‘over one year'. 1. By combining pp. 64 and 11 together of D. C. Sircar, op. cit.
The original words sumi (Skt. asmi fe) and husan (Skt. abhūvaṁ 3 ) have been added here by ourselves for clarity, following pp. 64-65, 99. For their Tenses affecting the meaning of the passage in question, see the two foregoing footnotes
respectively. 2. Ibid., p. 64.
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