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No. 1]
ERRAGUDI EDICTS OF ASOKA
(III) Abstention from the slaughter of life, absence of cruelty to living creatures, seemly behaviour to relatives, seemly behaviour to the Sramaņas and Brahmaņas, obedience to mother and father (and) obedience to the aged have increased now owing to the instruction in Dharma (imparted) by king Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, in such a degree as was not possible to achieve for many hundreds of years in the past by (means. of) showing to the people the (representations of) celestial cars and (celestial) elephants, masses of fire (i.e. hell-fire) as well as (many) other heavenly forms.1
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(IV) The practice of Dharma of the above kind as well as of various other kinds have increased and king Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, will certainly cause such practices of Dharma to increase (still more).
(V) Further, the sons, grandsons and great-grandsons of king Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, will promote this practice of Dharma till the time of universal destruction and, (themselves) abiding by Dharma and good conduct, will instruct (people) in Dharma.
(VI) Verily, instruction in Dharma is (considered by him to be his) supreme duty.
(VII) But the practice of Dharma is not possible for a person devoid of good conduct. (VIII) Therefore, in the matter (of Dharma), an increase is good as also its non-decrease. (IX), This (record) has been caused to be written for the following purpose, (viz.) that the promotion of Dharma should be adhered to and that no decrease of it should be countenanced.
(X) This record has been caused to be written by king Priyadarsin, Beloved of the Gods, twelve years after his coronation.
Rock Edict VIII
(in the middle)
1 (I) atikamtam amtalam Devanampiya vih[ā]la-yātaṁ nāma nikhamisu [*] (II) heta migaviyā amnani cha hedisāni ābhi[la]mani
2 h[u]su* [*] (III) se Devanaṁpiye Pilya]dasi laja dasa-vas-a[bh]isi[te] samtam nikhamitha [Sambodhi] [*] (IV) tena ta dhamma-yātā [*] (V) heta iyam hoti
3 samana-bambhanānam da sane dane cha vuḍhānaṁ dasane hilamna-pațividhāne cha janapadasa janasa [da]sane dhamm-anusathi"
4 dham[ma]-palipuchha tad-opaya [*] (VI) esa bhuye-lati hoti Devanampiyasa Piyadasi[ne] lajine [*] (VII) bhage amne [*]
TRANSLATION
(I) In the ages gone by, (kings styled) 'Beloved of the Gods' used (only) to go out on tours of pleasure.
1 Cf. my Maski Inscription of Asoka, p. 26. In the place of 'fire', the Shahbazgarhi version has 'light', possibly meaning 'divine light'.
Chakravarti: husu.
Chakravarti: lājā.
4 Chakravarti: ta..
Chakravarti: "There is a depression after da which looks like m on the impression; but it is too high up." There seems to be a letter between cha and ja.
Chakravarti: "There is no letter on the rock after thi."
*There is a short line below dhamma-pali showing the division of this edict from the next (Rock Edict X).
