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468
EPIGRAPHIA INDICA.
loyal subjects, as also among the Yonas, Kamboyas, Gandharas, Rastikas, Pitini. kas,' and all other nations which are my neighbours. Among my hired servants, among Brahmans and Vaisyas, among the unprotected and among the aged, they are busy with the welfare and happiness, with the removal of obstacles among my loyal ones. With the prevention of unjust imprisonment and of unjust corporal punishment, with the removal of obstacles and with loosening bonds, for these purposes they are busy, considering that there is a numerous progeny, or that the person concerned has been overwhelmed by misfortune, or that he is aged. Here, and in all the outlying towns, they are everywhere busy in all the harems of my brothers and sisters, and among my other relatives. These Overseers of the Sacred Law are busy with what concerns the Sacred LAW, with watching over the Sacred Law, and with what is connected with pious gifts, in my whole loyal empire. This religious edict has been written for the following purposes, vis, that it may endure for a long time, and that my subjects may act accordingly.
EDICT VI. King Priyadarbin, beloved of the gods, speaks thus :- A long period has elapsed, during which formerly the despatch of business and the hearing of the informers have not regularly taken place. Now I have made the following arrangement, that the informers may report to me the concerns of the people at any time, while I dine, in my harem, in my private rooms, in the latrine, in my carriages, and in my pleasure-garden and everywhere I despatch the business of the people Moreover, if, with respect to anything which I order by word of mouth to be given or to be obeyed as a command, or which as a pressing matter is entrusted to my officials, a dispute or a fraud happens in the committee of any caste or sect, I have given orders that it shall be brought forth with to my cognisance in any place and at any time; for I am never satisfied with my exertions and with the despatch of business. For I consider the welfare of all people as something for which I must work. But the root of that is exertion and the despatch of business. There is no more important work than to secure the welfare of all. And what is the purpose of every effort which I make? It is that I may discharge the debt. which I owe to the creatures, that I may make some bappy in this world, and that they may gain heaven in the next. This religious edict has been written for the following purpose, that it may endure for a long time and that my sons and grandsons may thus exert themselves for the welfare of all men. But that is difficult to carry out without the utmost exertion.
EDICT VII. King Priyadarsin, beloved of the gods, desires that adherents of creeds of all kinds may dwell everywhere; for they all seek after self-control and purity of mind. But men possess various desires and various likings. They will put in practice either the whole or a part only of what they profess. But self-control, purity of mind, gratitude and firm attachment are laudable in a lowly man, to whom even great liberality is impossible.
The Rastika I identify with the Rightiku, a southern nation. The Pitiniku, or Pitenika, probably had their seats in the same districts.
Compare Maldbadrata, XII. 56, 14 and 38, 14, where utthana "exertion" is prescribed for kings and declared to be the root of all good government
* The form nied in the Girkt version instead of nicko, may be explained as a contraction of nicháya i. nichdya ; compare Pillar Edict iv, note on nijhapayitd.
