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They take account alike of progress and of suffering, and with the faithful, they exhort the people of my empire to secure to them happiness here below, and salvation in the future. The Rajukas obey me; the Purushas also obey my wishes and my orders and spread my exhortations, so that the Rajukas may work to my satisfaction. Even as one confides his infant to a careful nurse and feels secure, and says — a careful nurse has charge of my infant,— even so I have appointed the Rajukas for the good of my subjects. And in order that they may with confidence and security, and free from anxiety, discharge their duties, I have reserved to myself the power to prosecute and punish them. It is desirable to maintain equality both in prosecution and in penalties. From this date therefore this rule is ordained,— To prisoners, who have been judged and condemned to death, I allow a grace of three days. They shall be informed that they shall live for this period, neither more nor less. Thus warned of the limit of their existence, they will bestow alms for the benefit of their future existence, or will practise fasting. I desire that even when confined in a prison, they shall be assured of the future ; and I ardently desire to see the advancement of religious acts, the control of the senses, and the distribution of alms, Digitized by Google CHAP. L] ASOKA AND HIS EDICTS. 21 EDICT V. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods, 26 years after my anointment, I have prohibited the killing of any of the following kinds of living creatures, viz., the suka, the sdrika, aruna, the chakrav&ka, the k.vtsa (wild duck), the nandimukha, the gairata, Ihtgel&ta (bat), the ambaka pUlika, the dadi, the anastkika fish, the vedaveyaka, the puputa of the Ganges, the sankuja fish, the kaphatasayaka, the pamna- MM, the /ijm/o, the sandaka, the okapinda % the palasata, the svetakapota (white pigeon), the grdmakapota (village pigeon), and all quadrupeds which are not of use and are not eaten. The she-goat , the sheep and the sow should not be killed when heavy with young or giving milk, or until their young ones are six months old. One shall not make capons. Living creatures shall not be burnt. Jungles shall not be burnt either recklessly or to kill the creatures inhabiting them. Animals shall not be fed on other living animals. At the full moon of the three ChStur- mfcyas (four-monthly celebrations), at the conjunction of the full moon with the constellation Tishya, and with the constellation Punarvasu, on the 14th and the 1 5th day of the moon and the day following the full moon, and generally on each Uposatha day, one should not kill or sell fish. On these days neither animals kept in game-forests, nor fishes in tank, nor any other kind of living beings shall be killed. On the 8th, the 14th, and the 15th day of each lunar fortnight, and on the days following the fall moon of the Tishya, the Punarvasu, and the three Ch&turmdsyas, one shall not motilate the ball, the goat, the sheep, or the pig or any other animals which are mutilated. Neither the horse nor the bull shall be branded on the full moon days of Tishya, Punarvasu, and the Chaturmasyas, and on the first days of the fortnights succeeding the full moon days of the Chatur- Q&yas, In the 26 years from my anointment, I have liberated 26 prisoners. • EDICT VI. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. 12 years after my anointment, I caused Edicts to be engraved (for the first time) for the good and the happiness of the people. I flatter myself that they will profit I7 it, and will make progress in religion in manifold ways ; and thus the Digitized by Google 22 BUDDHIST PERIOD. [BOOK IV. Edicts will tend to the benefit and the happiness of the people. I adopted means calculated to promote the happiness of my subjects,— those who are far from me, as well as those who are near me,— and also of my own relations. Hence I watch over all my bodies of officers. All sects receive from me gifts in manifold ways. But it is their own conversion which I consider the most important. I have caused this Edict to be engraved 26 years after my anointment. EDICT VII. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. Kings who ruled in past times desired that men should make progress in religion. But men did not make any progress in religion according to their desire. Then thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. I have reflected that kings who ruled in past times desired that men should make progress in religion, and men made no progress in religion according to their desire,— by what means can I lead them in the right path ? By what means can I cause them to make progress in religion according to my desire ? By what means can I cause them to advance in religion ? Then thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. I have formed the resolution of publish- ing religious exhortations and of promulgating religious instructions, so that men on hearing these will enter on the right path and will elevate themselves. EDICT VIII. I have promulgated religious exhortations and given manifold instruc- tions on religion, in order that religion may make rapid progress. I have appointed numerous officers over the people, each employed in his duty towards the people, in order that they may spread instruction and pro- mote goodness. Thus I have appointed Rajukas on many thousands of men, and they have received my order to instruct the faithful. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. It is with this single idea that I have raised pillars with religious inscriptions, that I have appointed ministers of religion (Dharma-raahamatra), that I have spread afar religious exhortations. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. Along the highways I have planted Nyagrodha trees that they may give shade to men and to animals ; I have planted out gardens with mangoes ; I Digitized by Google CHAP. I.] ASOKA AND HIS EDICTS. have caused wells to be dug every half krosa ; and in numerous places I have erected resting houses for the repose of men and of animals. Bat the truest enjoyment for myself is this. Previous kings and I myself have contributed to the happiness of men by various beneficial acts : but to make them follow the path of religion, it is with this object that I regulate my actions. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. I have also appointed ministers of religion in order that they may exert in eTery way in works of charity, and that they may exert themselves among all sects, monks as well as worldly men. I have also had in view the rater est of the clergy, of Brahmans, of religious mendicants, of religious Nirgrtmtkasy and of various sects among whom my officers work. The Mahimdtras exert themselves, each in his corporation, and the ministers of religion work generally among all sects. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. These and other officers are my instruments, and they work to distribute my alms and those of the queens. Throughout my palace they work in manifold ways, each in the apartments entrusted to him. I learn also that both here and in the provinces they distribute the alms of my children, and specially of the royal princes, to favour acts of religion and the practice of religion. In this way acts of religion are promoted in the world, as well the practice of religion, viz., mercy and charity, truth and purity, kindness and goodness. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. The manifold acts of goodness which I accomplish serve as an example. Through them, men have advanced, and will advance, in obedience to relations and to teachers, in kindly con- sideration for the aged, and in regard towards Brahmans and Sramans, towards the poor and the miserable, — yea, towards servants and slaves. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. The progress of religion among men is secured in two ways,— by positive rules,— and by religious sentiments which one can inspire in them. Of these two methods, that of positive rules is of poor value, it is the inspiration in the heart which best prevails. Positive rules consist in what I order,— when for instance, I prohibit the slaughter of certain animals or lay down other religions rules, as I have done to a large number. But it is solely by a change in the sentiments of the heart that religion makes a real advance Digitized by Google 24 BUDDHIST PERIOD. [BOOK IV in inspiring a respect for life and in the anxiety not to kill living beings. It is with this view that I have promulgated this inscription, in order that it may endure for my sons and my grandsons, and as long as the sun and the moon endure, and in order that they may follow my instructions. For by following this path one secures happiness here below, and in the other world. I have caused this Edict to be engraved twenty-seven years after my anointment. Thus spake King Piyadasi, beloved of the gods. Where- ever this Edict exists, on pillars of stone, let it endure unto remote ages. The Edict of religion lias endured unto remote ages ; and within the two thousand years which have suc- ceeded, mankind has discovered no nobler religion than to promote in this earth " mercy and charity, truth an d purity, kindness and goodness." Digitized by Google CHAPTER II. LANGUAGE AND ALPHABET. The Inscriptions of Asoka are invaluable to us for a study of the language and alphabet of Northern India in the third century B. C.