Indian Antiquary Vol 41

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 41

FEBRUAY, 1912.]
ASOKA'S BHABRA EDICT
87
Vol I, pp. 36-37
- यादृशो वक्षस्ताहको बलिः । 39 is derived from a root, meaning to worship. T is thus literally an object of worship--a god. "As is the gol, so is the offering." Compare the Bengali proverb Trar a fag. Thus it is not the same as tit-for-tat' or Roland for an Oliver.'
This review has been written mainly with the intention of drawing the attention of the Indian Sanskritists to the useful subject of mixim-hanting. It in a field for patient and honest research. Let our country men, who are now engaged in teaching Sanskrit in our Colleges, apply themselves to this task, and their labours will be amply rewarded.
ASOKA'S BHA BRA EDICT AND ITS REFERENCES TO TIPITAKA PASSAGER.
BY PROF. DHARMANANDA KOSAMBI, HARVARD UNIVERSITY. In the Bhabra edict king Asoka enggests certain sacred texts (dhamma-puliydydni ) as good o be studied not only by monks and nuns, but also by lay-brothers (upásuka ) and lay-sisters
(updsiká). These texts are, according to the readings of Emile Senart (Les inscriptions de • Piyadasi, 2. 199, Paris, 1886), as follows:
1. Vinaya-samukase ; . 2. Aliya-Dasdi ; 3. dnagala-bhaya ni; 4. Muni-dind; 5. Moneya sûle ; 6. Upatisa-pasine; 7. Laghulordde.
Considering the great antiquity of the edicts of Asoka, it is evidently a matter of much interest and moment that the above mentioned texts should be surely and correctly identified with the specific passages of the canonical books.
Number 1 has not been identified, and I am arable to offer any useful suggestion regarding it.
Numbers 8-5. With the help of the previous studies of Senart and Oldenberg, Professor Rhys Davids gives the desired identification of numbers 2-5 in bis Buddhist India (London, 1903). at page 169. Using the Pali text Society's editions of the Nikdya Texts as the basis of reference, the intended identifications are as follows:
2. Aryia-vasani = Bangfti-sutta of the (then unpublished) Digha-nikdya, Vol. 3; 3 Anagata-bhayani= Angutiara-nikaya, Vol. 3, pp. 105-108, sutta 79; 4. Muni-gáthd= Sulta-nipáta, stanzas 207-221, p. 36; 5. Moneyya-sulta= Aiguttara-nikdya, Vol. 1, p. 273 ; Itivuttaka, p. 56.
Number 6, the questions of Upatissa (= Säriputta): he does not attempt to determine precise. ly, since many passages might jnstly bear that title.
Number 7. There are two Rabulovâda-suttas, both in the Majjhima-nikaya, namely, the one at Vol. 1, pages 414-420, and the other at Vol. 1, pages 420-426. The words of the edict expressly state that the admonition uttered by the Exalted Enlightened One to Rábula concerned itself with the subject of falsehood (Laghulovdde mus dvd dan adhigichya Bhagavatd Dudhena bhdaite). Now it is precisely a falsehood or musdváda, of which the opening paragraphs of sutta 61 trest (see p. 414, 1, 10, p. 415, 1. 19), and it is accordingly clear that sulla 61 is the one intended by Aśoks. It was thus identified by Oldenberg and Senart.
With regard to numbers 4 and 7, I see no reason to differ from the views above stated. There remain therefore numbers 2, 3, 5 and 6 to be discussed.
Number , Aliya-vasáni. The first question to settle is this :
Sball Aboka's aliya-rasani bo equated with ariya-vásd, the holy ways of living', or with ariya-rainoá, the lineages or traditional ways of the holy "?