Jainism Early Faith of Ashoka

Author(s): Edward Thomas
Publisher: Trubner and Company London

Page 83

THE EARLY FAITH OF AŞOKA.
47
to the Rock edicts already examined, open, in the text of the Tablet on the northern face of the Dehli pillar, with these words:
“Iu the 27th year of my anointment, I have caused this religious! edict to be published in writing. I acknowledge and confess the faults that have been cherished in my heart. From the love of virtue, by the side of which all other things are as sins—from the strict scrutiny of sin, etc., ... by these may my eyes be strengthened and confirmed (in rectitude)." ..
In the 10th line the King continues :
"In religion (dhamma) is the chief excellence : but religion consists in good works :—in the non-omission of many acts: mercy and charity, purity and chastity;—(these are) to me the anointment of consecration. Towards the poor and the afflicted, towards bipeds and quadrupeds, towards the fowls of the air and things that move on the waters, manifold have been the benevolent acts performed by me." ....
The concluding section of this tablet is devoted to a definition of the "nine minor transgressions,” of which the following five alone are specified : “mischief, hard-heartedness, anger, pride, envy.”
The text of the western compartment of the Dehli lát begins :
“In the 27th year of my anointment, I have caused to be promulgated the following religious edict. My devotees in very many hundred thousand souls, having (now) attained unto knowledge ;? I have ordained (the following) fines and punishments for their transgressions.
Prinsep’s half-admitted impression, that these inscriptions
i Burnouf renders this opening, "La 26 ième année depuis mon sacre j'ai fait écrire cet édit de la loi. Le bonheur dans ce monde et dans l'autre est difficile à obtenir sans un amour extrême pour la loi, sans une extrême attention, sans une extrême obéissance," etc.-Lotus, p. 655.
7 Dr. Kern's translation departe from this meaning in a striking manner, and substitutes: “I have appointed sheriffs over many hundred thousands of souls in the land, I have granted them free power of instituting legal prosecution and inflicting punishment."