Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 92

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Ideals of Asokan Pality Some of the salient features of this constitution may be summarised thus? ;
(i) Few sins, (ti) many virtuous deeds, (iii) compassion, (iv) truth. fulness, (v) purity (of body and inind), (vi) liberality, (vii) non-injury to living beings, (viii) obedience to parents, teachers, elders aod senior ones, (ix) seemly behaviour towards ascetics, Brahmanas, Sramaņas, relatives, servants and slaves, (x) saintliness, (xi) moderation in spending and saving, (xii) self-control, (xiii) gratitude, (xiv) firm devotion, (xv) self-examination etc.
It will not be out of place to mention here that the evolution of all these lofty ideas of Asukan Goveryment owe their origin to the battlefield of Kalinga that the typical Mauryan monarch fought during the 8th year of the consecration.8 R E. XIII informs us how the huge carnage, deportation, maiming and above all, the complete annihilation of established social order of Kalingas filled his heart with utmost remorse. It was from the bloody battle of Kalinga that the lotus of piety sprang, that marked the future career of this monarch and turned the course of Indian history. He concluded that the chief conquest was that of right and not of might and that the real glory lay in winning over heart and soul and not the body (territory) For, war breeds morbidity and callousness among the victor and tho vanquished and thereby an incessant chain of misery, death, destruction and extinction of buman values invariably follows. He therewithal declared that the drums would no longer be sounded for war, but, for the cause of piety. Thus, he appears before us as the first monarch in the history of mankind to have denounced was inspite of wielding an extensive army and vast resources.
Apropos to this ideal he based his government on the principle of well-being of all the creatures ( afga zat:). Separate Kalinga R, E. I bespeaks of his paternal care for his subjects. He declares that “all men are my children, and just as I desire for my children that they may, enjoy every kind of prosperity and happiness both here, and hereafter (in the next
2. fut à fa ? Braffata,
a À , T, a ta, atat, P. E. II. साधु मातरि च पितरि च सुस्र सा, मित्रसंस्तुतञातीनं बम्हण समणानं साधु
grå, T H E TATTHI, qoqaaT 379EAT HTET, R. E. III. 3. सो अस्ति अनुसोचन विजिनिति कलिग नि । अविजितं हि विजिनमनो यो तत्र
वधं व मरणं व अपवहो व जनस तं बढ़ वेदनीयमतं गुरुमतं च देवनं प्रियस ।"इछति हि देवनं प्रियो सवभूतनं अक्षति संयम, समचरियं रभसिये । 37f9 o haga fase aqui funt o tafaut | R. E. XI.