Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 47
Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
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54
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
| FEBRUARY, 1918
orthography, may represent both vracha and varcha. With regard to varcha, European scholars have translated the word as 'latrine'. No king in his senses would ask officers to announce the business of suitors in his latrine. The basis of the interpretation (varcha), therefore, strikes me as being a mistaken value. Vracha on the other hand gives a meaning which agrees with the data of the Artha astra.
I'racha and vacha both equate with vraja. Vrachanti in sec. XIII, Rock series ( Shahbazvarhi) stands in the place of the Khalsi yanti, that is, vrachanti = Sans. vrajanti. Hemachandra gires vachchai for wrajati.16 We may therefore take vracha and vacha as equivalents of the Sans. vraja.
raja in the Artha nástra is a technical term for the royal stables for horses, mules, bullocks, etc., and their breeding-farms. 9 19- FA T 9799a Parafera 78-989 (p. 129 ); 1-HR114*, ATE N (p. 60), also see p. 59.
Aoka thus says that whether he be in the royal steed and cattle farms and stables or he be on the parade grounds, reviewing animals or men, urgent petitions might be brought to his notice by the ushers (prati-wedakas ).17
The last stage of Asoka's daily routine is his presence in the udyana or the Royal Gardens. The Arthasastra has, against it, the performance of the sandhya in the evening (p. 38). Asoka being a Buddhist had nothing to do with the orthodox prayer sandhya, but he passed his time in the gardens which presumably was done in the evening. Before the evening hours, we have in the Arthasâstra, the king thinking' of vikrama along with the Commander-in-Chief. If it meant military expeditions Aboka had nothing to do with it either, as these had been given up by him. But if it meant military drill, it corresponded with Asoka's vinita. 19
Vacha-Bhů mik as of Aboka. Vachu-bhumikus or Vracha-bhumikas (Mansera) of sec. XI] of the Rock series lipis of Asoka, in view of the interpretation of vracha in the last note, would mean the officers of the Vrajabhúmi." Vraja-bhumi and Vraja are not the same. For the Royal wajas in the Arthaídstra are nowhere connected with bhúmi; the technical term is wraja there, and not Vraja-bhúmi.
18 JR.N., 1913, 655, #. Bühler, AgokaInzer flen, p. 173.
1 Prativedakes are not spies as translated heretofore but the ushers or the officers who announced the arthins or suitors. This is the natural meaning, while the "spy" is forced, and unwarranted by the literature of the time.
1% We may tabulate a comparison between the two routines as follows:
CHANDRAGUPTA. 9-10-30 a.m. .. .. 10-30-12
12-1.30 p.m. 1-30—3 p.m... 3 to +-30 p.m. 4-30—6 p.m. ..
ASOKA. . Meals an udy.
Meals. .. Correspondence with Council. .. Svaira-vihera.
In the Palace; in
the garbhagana. .. Inspection of the military elephants, At the vrajas.
horses, etc. .. Vikrama' along with the Senapati. Vinita or military
drill. .. Sandhya.
In the gardens.
..
