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PILLAR EDICTS OF ASOKA.
253
EDICT IV-contd. Radhia. Mathia.
Rámpíurrá. tu asvathe-hoti[:] viyata-dhati- nisijitu asvathe-hoti[:] viyata- ni. . . . . . . . . cbaghati-me-pajam-sukban-ali- dhati-chaghati-me-pajam su- . . . . . . . . .. hatave-ti[,18) beva-mama-la- kham-palilaţave-ti[,22] hevam- .
[16 jûka-kutu * janapadasa-hits- mama-lajúka-kata janapalasa- jâ napadasa-hitasukhaye yena-etekhâyesil yena-ete-abhita-asvathậ- hitasukhåve [j] y[e]na-ete-abhîta- abbîta-asvatba. . . . . . samtam-avimana-karmani-pava- asvatha-rurinta avimanu-kam- . .
. . . . tayevů-ti[.] Etena-me lajúk&- mâni-pavatayevů-ti[.23] Etena- . . . . . . . . .. nam abhindle-va[19] damde-va- me-lajakanan-abhihâle-va-dam- . . . . .. .. [17] atapatiye-kate [.) Ichhitaviye-hi-de-va atapatiye-kate[.] Ichhitt- Ichbitaviye-hi-esa[:] ki-ti[?] vi. usa[:] kim-ti[?] viyohálasamatá- viye-bi-esa[:] kim-ti[?]-viyohala- yohlasamatá-cha-siya . . . cha--iya damdasamata-cha [.] samatá-cha-siya dardasamata.
. . . . Ảvà ite-pi-cha-me avai[:] bar - cha[24] Ava-ite-pi-chu-me-avil- • • • • • • • • • • dhanabadhanam [20] munisa- ti[:] bandhanabadhanaṁ-inu- . ... . . . . .. nar-lilitadardAnam patavadba- nisana [m]tilitadamdanaṁ patava- . . . . . [18] timni. nam timni-divashni-me-yote- dh&nam timni-divas&ni-me yote- divasåni-me y[o]te-dimne [.] Nadimne.) Nåtika-va-kani-nijha- dimne[:] Natika-va-kani(25) ni- tika-va-kâni nijha-
. payisarti jivitAye-tanam näsa- jhapayisamti jîvitaye-tanam . . . . . . . . .. tar-va[21] nijhapayitave dánar- nasamtamn-va-nijhapayitave dán- . . . . . . . . .. Câbarati-pálatikum u pavasam- am-dabarti-palatika upavasam- .
. va-kachbartis.] Ichha-hi-me[:] va-kachbarti[.] Ichbâ hi-me[] .[.19] Ichb8-hi-me-hevam bevam-niludhasi-pi-kalasi pâlat- bevañ[26] niludhasi-pi-kalasi pe- niludhasi-pi-kålasi pålatam . . ar-Aladbayevů-ti (22) janasa-cha- latam-aladhayevů-ti janasa-cha .
. . .. vadbati vividhe-dharmachaline vadhati vividhe-dharmacbalane . . . . . . . . .. sayame danasarviblâye-ti[23] sayame dânsavibhåge-ti[27] . .
. [20] TRANSLATION. King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, speaks thus:-"After I had been anointed twenty-six years, I ordered this religious edict to be written. My Lajúkas' are established as rulers) among the people, among many hundred thousand souls; I have made them independent in (awarding ) both honours and punishments-Why? In order that the Lajúkas may do their work tranquilly and fearlessly, that they may give wel. fare and happiness to the people of the provinces and may confer benefits (on them). They will know what gives happiness and what inflicts pain, and they will exhort the provincials in accordance with the principles of the sacred law, How P-That they may gain for themselves happiness in this world and in the next. But the Lajúkas are eager to serve me". My (other) servants also, who know my will, will serve (me), and they, too will exhort some (men), in order that the Lajúkas may strive to gain my favour. For, as (a man) feels tranquil after making over his child to a clever nurse,-saying unto himself, The clever nurse strives to bring up my child well,' even so I have acted with my Lajúlas for the welfare and happiness of the provincials, intending that, being fearless and feeling tranquil, they may do their work without perplexity. For this reason I have made the Lajúkas independent in (awarding) both honours and punishments. For the following is desirable :- What? That there may be equity in official business and
* It is possible to read lajdka-kate. But the seeming e-stroka is much shorter than the real ones, and, hence, is probably due to an accidental flaw in the stone.
* Though viyohala, in Sanskrit uyarıhara, frequently means "legal businen,' judicial proceeding,' there is no objection to taking it here in the not less common wider sense 'business, official business,' as the translation of abhihara be awarding bonours" makes advisable.
