________________
Religion, Practice and Science of Non-Violence
"What is obtained by this is victory everywhere, and everywhere victory is pleasant..
"This inscription of Dhamma has been engraved so that any sons or great grandsons that I may have should not think of gaining new conquests, and in whatever victories they may gain should be satisfied with patience and light punishment. They should only consider conquest by Dhamma to be a true conquest, and delight in Dhamma should be their whole delight for this is of value in both this world and the next."
20
In order to do good to his people and to mankind in general, Ashoka employed his personal energies and that of his vast and mighty empire to this end. Besides, he tried to inculcate Dhamma not only among the peoples in his own dominions but also all over the world, so that all may enjoy the blessings of "non-injury, self-control, equable conduct, and gentleness." Welfare of the people became his motto.
In order to lessen tension between people of different religions and sects in his domains, Ashoka advocated: (1) promotion of basic tenets which are common to all religions; (2) cultivation of a sense of unity of all religions and sects; (3) coming together of exponents of different religions in religious assemblies; (4) learning the texts of other religions so as to become proficient in the scriptures of different religions.1 Ashoka set an example himself by honouring all sects and making gifts to them all.
He abolished in his kingdom all public pastimes and popular sports that involved the killing of animals and curtailed animal sacrifices. Slaughter of animals for meat was also abolished. The unrestricted slaughter of animals for the royal table was first limited to one deer and two peacocks a day; later even this was totally abolished. Animals such as parrots, wild geese, bats, ants, tortoises, squirrels, porcupines, lizards, rhinos and pigeons were declared protected animals. The royal sport of hunting was abolished. The husk of different grains was forbidden to be burnt as it contained minute living beings; forests were not to be burnt either, as there was a danger of burning animals in them. Fish was forbidden to be caught or sold for fifty-six days in a year. The castration of animals and
1Twelfth rock edict.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
