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END OF MILITARISM
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conquest in the Emperor's opinion was the conquest by righteousness (Dhamma-vijaya). In Edict IV he exultingly says, “the reverberation of the war-drums (Bherighoso) has become the reverberation of the Law of Piety (Dhammaghoso).” Not content with what he himself did he called upon his sons and even his great grandsons to eschew new conquests-putra papotra me asu navaṁ vijayam ma vijetaviyaṁ. Here we have a complete renunciation of the old policy of military conquest or Digvijaya and the enunciation of a new policy, viz., that of Dhammavijaya.' The full political effects of this change of policy became manifest only after the death of Asoka, perhaps even after the 27th year of his consecration. From the time of Bimbisāra to the Kalinga war the history of India was the story of the expansion of Magadha from a tiny state in South Bihār to a gigantic Empire extending from the foot of the Hindukush to the borders of the Tamil country. After the Kalinga var ensued a period of stagnation at the end of which the process is reversed. The empire gradually dwindled down in extent till it sank to the position from which Bimbisāra and his successors had raised it.
1 The Asokan conception of Dhamma-vijaya was similar to that described in the Chakkavatti Sihanāda Sutta, "conquest not by the scourge, not by the sword, but by righteousness" (Dialogues of the Buddha, Part III, p 59). It was different from the Hindu conception explained and illustrated by the Mahābhārata (XII, 59,38-39), the Harivainsa (I. 14.21), the Kauțiliya (p. 382), and the Raghuvamsa (IV. 43). Attention may be invited in this connection to a statement of Arrian that "a sense of justice prevented any Indian king from attempting conquest beyond the limits of India" (Camb. Hist Ind. I. 321); M'crindle, Ancient India as described by Megasthenes and. Arrian, 209. Incidentally it may be pointed out that the discourse entitled the Chakkavathi Sihanāda (Lion Roar of the Chakravarti or emperor who conquers by righteousness') possibly affords a clue to proper appreciation of the famous Sarnath Capital with its Chakra and crowning lions. Cf. also Rāmāyana II. 10. 36. Yāvadā vartate chakram tāvati me vasundharā.
