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BENEVOLENT ACTIVITY
343 Benevolent Activity. Promotion of the Welfare of
Man and Beast. Asoka abolished the sacrificial slaughter of animals, offensive Samājas and the massacre of living creatures to make curries in the imperial kitchen. Rock Edict VIII refers to the abolition of the vihāra-yātrās or tours of pleasure in which hunting and other similar amusements used to be practised. Pillar Edict V contains a code of regulations i restricting the slaughter and mutilation of animals. Dr. Smith points out that the prohibitions against animal slaughter in this edict coincide to a considerable extent with those recorded in the Arthaśāstra.
The emperor established healing arrangements in two kinds, namely, healing arrangements for men and healing arrangements for beasts. Medicinal herbs also both for men and for beasts, wheresoever lacking, were imported and planted. Roots also and fruits, 2 wheregoever lacking, were imported and planted. On the roads wells were dug, probably at intervals of 8 kos, flights of steps built for descending into the water, and banyan trees and mango groves planted for the enjoyment of man and beast.
Pillar Edict VII refers to the employment of superior officers (Mukhyas) in the distribution of alms, both the emperor's own and those of the queens and princes. One of the Minor Pillar Edicts refers to the donations of the second Queen Kāruvāki, 3 mother of Tivara : “whatever gift has been given here by the second Queen-be it a mango-garden, or pleasure-grove (ārāma) or alms-house
1 Dhamma-niyama, cf. Patañjali I, I, I.
2 Cf. reference to figs in Bindusāra's correspondence with Antiochos. - 3 Dr. Barua suggests the identification of this lady with Asandhimittă of the Mahāvamsa and the Sumangalavilâsini (Indian Culture, 1, 123). The suggestion, though ingenious, is hardly convincing,
