Indian Antiquary Vol 47

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

Page 57

FEBRUARY, 1918)
THE ARTHASASTRA EXPLAINS
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Vinita of Aboka's Inscriptions. Vinita used in Asoka's dharm 2-lipi, section VI of the Rock series, has been translated by European scholars, with some diffidence, as a 'carriage.'
We get the real sense if we refer to the Royal Time Table given in the Arthasastra in the chapter on Royal Duty (pp. 37-39). The chapter emphasises utthana (energy): TERUTA47: ffa (1st paragraph; p. 37), and again, trait a ura | Egerina
rural À faq ( last lines, p. 39). Now Asoka's 'edict' VI is also on utthana: TF T JETA I. Bearing this in mind we can proceed further.
According to the Artha sastra time-table the King was to attend to the questions of Defence and Finance early morning for 11 hours (p. 37), and after that between 7-30 a.m. and 9 a.m. he had to entertain public petitions freely in the Throne-Hall.11 After that he went to have his bath and meals and private study (9-10-30 a.m.)12
That this time-table was acted upon by Chandragupta may be gathered from Megasthenes, who says that the King was being 'shampooed' while receiving petitions. This shampooing' would naturally refer to the hours before bath
Asoka is really extending the hours for the petitions of the public. He says that he would attend to the artha of the people (cf. rifat, AS.) even in the hours set apart for meals and study (while I be taking food or I be in the palace"-Asoka). Then after the hours of breakfast and study, the Arthasastra again enjoins attending to public businesscorrespondence with the Council of Ministers (10-30--12 a.m.) after which he might have his ( ET) rest and amusements (12--1-30 p.m.). Against this (tapatero ), Asoka refers to his presence in his "garbhágára." This garbhagara was most likely an inderground cool room for rent in summer. 13 In the after-noon, according to the Arthasastra time-table, the king would go to the military training grounds ( À REEZETTU antart 9 , P. 38) and himself would join the drill or vinaya ( **** FRONTY
a re TEXT, p. 10). Against this we have Asoka's vachasi and vinitasi. 14 Vinita, therefore, stands for vinaya or military exercise.
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Vracha of Aboka's Inscription. Vacha (Girnar and Kalsi) would also refer to some military matter, as it occurs after garbhagara corresponding to the rest' of the Arthasastra time-table. Mr. Vincent Smith restores vacha into vracha (Asoka, 1901, p. 122). The Kharosthi versions have varcha which in view of the eccentric orthography of those versions 15 or our eccentric reading of that 11 fata Arratai rart 3 (p. 37) 39 YTTTT: rain
raa (p. 38). 13 at E a t I FIAT
! (p. 37). 1s Ot. with the bhumi-griham of the Arthasdetra, p. 40. 1 सर्व कालं अदमानसा में ओलोधनास गभागालसि वचसि विनितसि उयानसि सबता पनिवेदका अर्ड
et 97 # (Kalsi). 15 Cf. parti-vedaka (VI) instead of prati-vednk.
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