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I myself with my own mouth issue instructions which the ministers of religion impart to the people. Thus I have directed that wherever there is a division, a quarrel, in the assembly of the clergy, it should always be immediately reported to me. For there cannot be too much activity employed in the administration of justice. It is my duty to procure by my instructions the good of the public ; and in incessant activity and the proper administration of justice lies the root of public good, and nothing is more efficacious than this. All my endeavours have but thus one object,— to pay this debt due to my people ! I render them as happy as possible here below, may they obtain happiness hereafter in heaven ! It is with this object that I have caused this Edict to be engrav- ed, may it endure long ! And may my sons and my grandsons and my great-grandsons follow my example for the public good. This great object requires the utmost endeavour. EDICT VII. The King Piyadasi beloved of the gods, ardently desires that all sects may live (unmolested) in all places. All of them equally propose the Digitized by Google CHAP I.] ASOKA AND HIS EDICTS. II subjection of the senses and the purification of the soul; but man is fickle in his attachments. They thus practise but imperfectly what they profess ; and those who do not bestow ample gifts may yet possess a control over their senses, purity of soul, and gratitude and fidelity in their affections ; and this is commendable. EDICT VIII. In past times kings went out for pastimes. Hunting and other amuse ments of the kind were their pastimes here below. I, King Piyadasi, Gloved of the gods, obtained true intelligence ten years after my anoint- ment. These, then, are my pastimes ;— visits and gifts to Brahmans and Sramans, visits to aged men, the distribution of money, visits to the people of the empire, their religious instruction, and consultations on religious subjects. It is thus that the King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, enjoys the pleasure derived from his virtuous acts. EDICT IX. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. Men perform various observances in illness, at the marriage of a son or a daughter, at the birth of a child, and at the time of proceeding on a journey. On these and similar occasions men follow various practices. But these numerous and diverse practices observed by most people are valueless and vain. It is customary, however, to observe such practices, although they produce no fruit But the practice of religion on the contrary is meritorious in the highest degree. Regard for slaves and servants, and respect for relations and teachers are meritorious ; tenderness towards living beings, and alms to Brahmans and Sramans are meritorious. I call these and similar virtuous acts the practice of religion. A father or a son, a brother or a teacher should say,— this is what is meritorious, this is the practice which must be observed till the end is attained. It has teen said that alms are meritorious, but there is no gift and no charity so meritorious as the gift of religion, the imparting of religion. Hence n friend, a relation, a companion should give such counsel, — in such and such circumstances this should be clone, this is meritorious. Convinced Digitized by Google 12 BUDDHIST PERIOD. [BOOK IV that such conduct leads to heaven, one should follow it with zeal as the way which leads to heaven. EDICT X. The King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, does not deem any kind of glory and renown to be perfect except this, viz., that in the present and in the future ray people practise obedience to my religion and perform the duties of my religion ! That is the glory and the renown which the King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, seeks. All the efforts of the King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, are for the fruits obtainable in the future life, and for escaping mortal life. For mortal life is evil. But it is difficult to attain this end both for the small and the great, except by a determined effort to detach themselves from all objects. It is assuredly a difficult task, spe- cially for the great, to perform this. EDICT XL Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. There is no gift com- parable with the gift of religion, the intimacy of religion, the charity of religion, the relationship of religion. This should be observed,— regard towards slaves and servants, obedience to father and mother, charity to- wards friends, companions, relations, Sramans and Brahraans, and respect for the life of living creatures. A father or a son or a brother, a friend, a companion, or even a neighbour, should say,— this is meritorious, this should be done. In striving thus, he derives a gain in this world and in the life to come ; infinite merit results from the gift of religion. EDICT XII. The King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, honors all sects, both ascetics and householders ; he propitiates them by alms and by other gifts. But the beloved of the gods attaches less importance to such gifts and honors than to the endeavour to promote their essential moral virtues. It is true, the prevalence of essential virtues differs in different sects. But there is a common basis, and that is gentleness and moderation in language. Thus one should not exalt one's own sect and decry the others ; one should not depreciate them without cause, but should render them on every occa- Digitized by Google CHAP. I.] ASOKA AND HIS EDICTS. 13 sion the honour which they deserve. Striving thus, one promotes the welfare of his own sect while serving the others. Striving otherwise, one- does not serve his own sect, and does disservice to others. And whoever from attachment to his own sect, and with a view to promote it, exalts it and decries others, only deals rude blows to his own sect ! Hence con- cord atone is meritorions, so that all bear and love to bear the beliefs of each other. It is the desire of the beloved of the gods that all sects should be instructed, and should profess pure doctrines. All people, whatever their faith may be, should say that the beloved of the gods attaches less importance to gifts and to external observances, than to the desire to pro- mote essential moral doctrines and mutual respect for all sects. It is with this object that the ministers of religion, the officers in charge of females, the inspectors, and other bodies of officers, all work. The result of this is the promotion of my own faith, and its advancement in the light of reb'gion. EDICT XIII. Vast is the kingdom of Kalinga conquered by King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. Hundreds of thousands of creatures have been reduced to slavery, a hundred thousand have been killed. Since the conquest of Kalinga, the king, beloved of the gods, has turned towards religion, has been devoted to religion, has conceived a zeal for religion, and has appli- ed himself to the diffusion of religion, — so great was the regret which the beloved of the gods felt at the conquest of Kalinga. In conquering the coontry which was not subject to me I, beloved of the gods, have deeply felt and sorrowed for the murders, the deaths, and the reducing of the native idiabitants to slavery. But this is what the beloved of the gods has felt and sorrowed for more keenly. Everywhere dwell Brdhmans or SrSmans, ascetics or householders ; and among such men are witnessed respect to authorities, obedience to fathers and mothers, affection towards friends, companions and relations, regard for servants and fidelity in affections. Scch men are exposed to violence and to death, and to separation from those who are dear to them. And even when by special protection they themselves escape personal harm, their friends, acquaintances, compa- nions and relations are ruined ; and thus they too have to suffer. All Digitized by Google T 4 BUDDHIST FERIOD. [BOOK IV. violence of this kind is keenly felt and regreted by me, beloved of the gods. There is no country where bodies of men like the Brahmans and Sramans are not known, and there is no spot in any country where men do not profess the religion of some sect or other. It is because so many men have been drowned, ruined, killed and reduced to slavery in Kalinga that the beloved of the gods feels this today a thousand times more keenly. + # * * * The beloved of the gods ardently desires security for all creatures, respect for life, peace and kindliness in behaviour. This is what the l>eloved of the gods considers as the conquests of religion. It is in these conquests of religion that the beloved of the gods takes pleasure, both in his empire and in all its frontiers with an extent of many hundred Vojanas. Among his (neighbours), Antiochus, king of the Yavanas, and beyond Aniiochus, four kings, Ptolemy, Antigonas, Magas, and Alexander ; to the south, among the Cholas, Pandyas, as far as Tambapanni, and also the Henaraja Vismavasi ; among the Greeks and the Kambojas, the Nabhakas and the Nabhapantis, the Bhojas, and the Petenikas, the Andhras, and the Pulindas ;— everywhere they conform to the religious instructions of the beloved of the gods. There where the messengers of the beloved of the gods have been sent, there the people heard the duties of the religion preached on the part of the beloved of the gods, and conform and will conform to the religion and religious instructions. * * Thus the conquest is extended on all sides. I have felt an intense joy,— such is the happiness which the conquests cf religion procure ! But to speak the truth, this joy is a secondary matter ; the beloved of the gods attaches great value only to the fruits which are assured in a future life.