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AN EARLY HISTORY OF ORISSA
Sometimes, however, the lofty ideals of duty, set before the officers, were not realised. Cases of their neglect of duty or indifference to the Emperor's injunctions called forth vigorous but dignified protests from Asoka himself. For instance, he says in Separate Kalinga Edict I: -“With certain natural dispositions, success in administration is not possible to wit, envy, lack of sustained efforts, harshness, impatience, want of application, indolence and lassitude. You must desire that such dispositions be not yours. At the root of the whole matter lie steadiness and patience. He, who is tired in administration, will not rise up, but one must needs move, advance and march on. There will be special officers to remind you of your obligations to the King and of his Instructions. Fulfilment of these bears great fruit and non-fulfilment brings great calamity (Asoka, probably, means a threat here?). If this is not fulfilled there is neither attainment of Heaven nor that of the Royal Favour. By fulfilling my Instructions, you will gain Heaven and also will pay your debt to me” (SKE I).
Further, lest his words be forgotten by those for whoin they were meant, the Emperor, besides having them indelibly engraved on rocks, ordered that they be recited publicly at the beginning of each season of four months i. e. each of the three seasons-hot, rainy and coll, on the Tishya day, nay, even once a month on the Tishya day and in the intervals between the Tishya days and on a fit occasions even to a single person (SKE II).
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