Indian Antiquary Vol 12

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 84

72
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1883.
sibility, and extreme activity. But, thanks to my instructions, this care for religion, the zeal for religion grows and will grow (among them) from day to day. And my officers, superiors, subalterns and those of middle rank, conform to it and guide (the people) in the good way, the way so as to keep light spirits; the overseers of the frontier countries, the same. Because the rule is: government by religion, law by religion, progress by religion, security by religion.
Second Edict. Prinsep, ut sup. p. 582 ff., Burnouf, ut sup. p. 666 f. (10) Devânampiye piyadasilâja. (11) hevam ah& [.] dhamme sådhå (.) kåyam
cha dharme til. apasinave bahukayâne ("") daya' dâne sache sochaye cha kha[.]
dâne pi me bahuvidhe dimne dupada (18) chatupadesu" pakhivalichaleser vividhes
me anugahe kate âpâna (14) dAkhin vel annani pi cha me bahni-
s kayânâni katâni[.) etâye me (15) athâyeo iyam dharmalipi"' likhôpita's
hevam anupatipajamtu chilam (16) thitika'' cha potūti ti" (.) ye cha hevam
sampațipajisati" se" sukatan kachhatîti" (.] "King Piyadasi, dear to the gods, speaks thus : Religion is excellent. But, one will say, what is that religion? [It consists in committing] the least evil possible, [ in doing ] much good, [in practising) pity, charity, veracity and also purity of life. Therefore I have given alms of all kinds; to men and quadrupeds, birds and aquatic animals, I have distributed diverse favours, even to securing drinkable water for them; I have besides done good in other meritorious actions. It is for this that I have caused this edict to be inscribed, in order that, conforming to it, they may walk in the same good way, and my word may endure. Whoever acts thus, he will do well.
Third Edict. Prinsep, ut sup. p. 584 ; Burnouf, ut sup. p. 669ff. ('') Devånampiye piyadasi lâja hevar ahá'C.]
kayanammeva' dekhati* iyam me (5) kayâne kațeti nomine påpamo dakhati
iyam me på pa' kateti iya va Asinave (*) namati [.) dupativekhe chu kho esê he
vamo chu kho esa dekhiye imani (*) Asinavagâmini nama" atha chamdiye ni
thaliye" kodhe måne[-] isya (*) kalalena ya hakam mâ palibhasayisani"
esa badha" dekhiye iyán me (9) hidatikâye iyam ma name pålatikâye!'[.]
"King Piyadasi, dear to the gods, speaks thus : We see only our good actions, we say, I have done such a good action. In return we do not see the evil that we commit, we do not say, I have committed such a bad action, such an action is a sin. It is true that this examination is hard ; nevertheless, it is necessary to watch ourselves, and to say: such and such actions constitute sins, as passion, cruelty, anger, pride. It is necessary to watch ourselves with care and say: I will not yield to envy and calumniate ; that will be for my greater good here below; that will be for my greater good in the future."
Fourth Edict. Prinsep, ut susp. p. 585 ff. ; Lassen, Ind. Alterth. bd. II, p. 258, n. 2; p. 272, n. 1; p. 274 n. 1; Burnouf, Lotus, p. 740. ff.; Kern Jaartelling der zuydelijke Buddhisten, p. 94 ff. (1) Devâ nampiye piyadasi lája hevam âhâ (.]
sadvisativasa () abhisitena' me iya dhammalipi likhâ
pita [.) lajúkâ me ) bahûsu panasatasahasesu janasi ayatâ*
tesaṁ ye abhihále va () dainde vâ atapatiye me kate kimti lajûka'
asvatha abhita
1D.das, A."dasto. AR."14jA. SRM Aha
• ARM.Eddhuo. • D'. ok by Arn oha dha', A. Okiyat, RM.Okiyam cha.. • A.oma ti. Modaya. . A.dane.
A."sachayo, RM."socheye ti chao. 10 RM.odine. HD'. 'dup Ads, A.°padarnchao. 15 D'R.Ovidha meo. 13 D'.° panerdAkhanAyo, ARM. dakhio. 1. D'..&n&ni pi che me. 16 R. bahunio. 18 AR.'athkye,Mathayao. " R. dhamao. 16 BM. pita. 1 D'. chilAtht, A.'chflathittukao. R. thitika, M. thi-
tks. * D!. opota sd ye", ARM.° cha hotati ye. SI D'.chs-tipajisa, ABM. pajisa A.'s nuo
1 D. katha kachhati tio, R. 'kachha ti, M. kachhati°. 1 A.'dusi 14jA. D'AM. AAC, R. Aha. 3 A.nameva
A.khavi i°, RM, "dekhauntii'. A. p&pakamo, RM,"dekhamtio. | DRM.®påpe", A.'p&pake". D vao. • The lacuna in A. commences here and extends into
the following edict. 10 R. esa havat. D'M.og&minio. 15 RM.&mati ao. 13 RM.'nithali 16 KM. isyaklo. 15 DISA
RM.yisarnti e. 1 M.'sa thadhat de, B.dharia de * D*. "iyam me plo. RM.kkyo ti. 1 R.As.
• Rosada RM. pita • RM.yata
• RM. Ar. • M. bhipale. RM.jakso. EM. bhita.