Jainism Early Faith of Ashoka

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

Page 87

THE EARLY FAITH OF AŞOKA.
51 II. a. THE AIM AND PURPOSE OF THE INSCRIPTIONS.
The Dehli pillar, in addition to the four edicts inclosed within square tablets, has a supplementary inscription encircling the base of the column. In this proclamation Aşoka, after enumerating his own efforts for the good of his people after the truly Indian ideal of planting trees and excavating wells along the high roads, goes on to arrange for the missionary spread of his religion, in these terms:
“Let the priests deeply versed in the faith (or let my doctrines?) penetrate among the multitudes of the rich capable of granting favours, and let them penetrate alike among all the unbelievers whether of ascetics or of householders. . . . Moreover let them for my sake find their way among the bráhmans (bábhaneshu) and the most destitute." ...
The text proceeds: “Let these (priests) and others most skilful in the sacred offices penetrate among"...“my Queens, and among all my secluded women,'' ... "acting on the heart and on the eyes of the children, ... for the purpose of imparting) religious enthusiasm and thorough religious instruction."
After much more of similar import, the Edict concludes :
"Let'stone pillars be prepared, and let this edict of religion be engraven thereon, that it may endure unto the remotest ages."
The separate Edicts of the Aswastama Inscription at Dhauli i continue these exhortations in the subjoined terms:
“My desire is that in this very manner, these (ordinances) shall be pronounced aloud by the person appointed to the stupa; and adverting to nothing else but precisely according to the commandment of DEVÁNAMPIYA, let him (further) declare and explain them." .... "And this edict is to be read at the time of) the
1 “The Aswastama is situated on a rocky eminence formi e of a cluster of hills, three in number, on the south bank of the Dyah river near to the village of Dhauli. The hills alluded to rise abruptly from the plains,... and have a singular appearance, no other hills being nearer than eight or ten miles." -Major Kittoe, J.A.S.B. vol. vii. p. 435.
Burnouf revised this translation, with his usual critical acumen, in 1852. The following quotation gives his varied version :-“ Aussi est-ce là ce qui doit être proclamé par le gardien du stúpa qui ne regardera rien autre chose, (ou bien, aussi cet édit a dû être exprimé au moyen du Prakrita et non dans un autre idiome). Et ainsi veut ici le commandement du roi Chéri des Devas. J'eu confié l'exécution au grand ministre....
« Et cet édit doit être entendu'au Nakhata Tisa (Nakchatra Tichya) et à la fin