Ashoka Inscription (The Edicts of Ashoka) [NCERT Notes
- Ancient Indian History Notes For UPSC]
The great Emperor Ashoka, the third monarch of the Maurya dynasty converted to Buddhism after
witnessing the horrific effects of war in Kalinga. He became a champion and patron of Buddhism and
strove to spread Dhamma throughout his empire and beyond. He erected pillars and edicts all over the
subcontinent and even in modern-day Afghanistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan to spread the
Buddha’s word.
Ashokan Inscriptions (Rock Edicts)
James Prinsep, a British antiquary and colonial administrator was the first person to decipher Ashoka’s
edicts. These Ashoka's inscriptions are the first tangible evidence of Buddhism.
They were kept in public places and along trade routes so that the maximum number of people would
read them. More than religious discourses, they talk about the moral duties of the people, how to
conduct life, Ashoka’s desire to be a good and benevolent ruler, and Ashoka’s work towards this end.
There are 33 inscriptions in total and primarily classified into the following:
1. Major rock edicts
2. Minor rock edicts
3. Separate rock edicts
4. Major pillar edicts
5. Minor pillar edicts
• In the earlier half of his reign, the edicts were inscribed on conveniently located rock surfaces and were
distributed in the areas of public settlement, where people could easily read them and are referred to as
major and minor rock edicts.
• In the later part of his reign, the inscriptions were on well-polished monolithic pillars (from the sites of
Chunar, near Varanasi), each edict surmounted with a finely sculpted animal capital involving great
technological expertise in cutting and engraving and were mainly confined to the Ganges plain.
• The inscriptions were composed in the Prakrit language (in Magadhi, the dialect of Prakrit in Magadha)
and written in Brahmi script throughout the greater part of the empire. But in the north-western part, they
appear in Kharosthi script and in Kandahar in Afghanistan, they were written in Aramaic, in Greek script
and Greek language.
• Most of the inscriptions are about dhamma (Prakrit form of dharma, literally means the universal law or
righteousness or social and religious order) and it was inspired by the Buddhist Upasaka Dhamma (i.e, the
Buddhist teaching for the laity). Ashoka's dhamma emphasised non-violence, mutual respect and
understanding between people of different sects and beliefs. It included the state's concern for the welfare
of its people. The basic attributes of dhamma included compassion, charity, truthfulness, purity and
gentleness. He asked the people to extend respect, consideration, compassion and tolerance towards
slaves and servants, obedience to parents, generosity towards friends and relatives, regard and donations
to Brahmanas and Shramanas, a concern for all living beings and to abstain oneself from destroying life.
Ashoka's Major Rock Edicts
Major Rock Edicts: There are 14 major rock edicts:
Edict Ashoka Inscription Details
Major
Rock Prohibition of animal sacrifice, especially during festive seasons.
Edict I
Major Medical treatment of humans and animals, planting of fruits,
Rock medicinal herbs and the digging of wells. Mentions the Pandyas,
Edict II Satyapuras and Keralaputras of South India.
Major Generosity to Brahmins. About Yuktas, Pradeshikas and Rajukas
Rock who would go every five years to different parts of his empire to
Edict III spread Dhamma.
Major Dhammaghosha (sound of Dhamma/righteousness) over
Rock Bherighosha (sound of war). The King Ashoka attached greatest
Edict IV value to his duty.
Major About Dhammamahamatras. Talks about treating slaves right. A
Rock special cadre of officials, Dhamma Gosha were appointed and
Edict V entrusted with the duty of spreading Dhamma within the kingdom.
Major
King’s desire to know about his people’s conditions. About welfare
Rock
measures.
Edict VI
Major
Rock Tolerance towards religions among all sects and welfare measures
Edict for the public in his as well as his neighbouring kingdoms.
VII
Major
Rock Ashoka’s first visit to Bodh Gaya and the Bodhi tree (his first
Edict Dhamma Yatra). Gave importance to Dhamma tours.
VIII
Major
Rock Condemns popular ceremonies. Stresses on moral conduct.
Edict IX
Major
Disapproves of the individual’s desire for fame and glory and
Rock
stresses on Dhamma.
Edict X
Major
Dhamma is the best policy to follow, which includes respect for
Rock
elders and concern for slaves and servants.
Edict XI
Major
Rock It mentions Mahamattas in charge of women's welfare, Ithijika
Edict Mahamatta and tolerance towards the dhamma of others.
XII
Mentions victory over Kalinga. Mentions Ashoka’s Dhamma
victory over Greek Kings Antiochus of Syria (Amtiyoko),
Ptolemy of Egypt (Turamaye), Magas of Cyrene (Maka),
Antigonus of Macedon (Amtikini), Alexander of Epirus
Major (Alikasudaro). Also mentions Pandyas, Cholas, etc.
Rock
Edict
XIII The thirteenth rock edict which was issued at the end of the
Kalinga war gives a vivid picture of the change of Ashoka
from an aggressive and violent warrior to a great lover and
preacher of peace. The direct and immediate effect of the
Kalinga war was the conversion of Ashoka to Buddhism.
Major
Rock
Purpose of rock edicts.
Edict
XIV
Minor Rock Edicts
• Minor rock edicts are found on 15 rocks across the country and in Afghanistan also.
• Ashoka uses his name only in four of these places namely:
1. Maski,
2. Brahmagiri (Karnataka),
3. Gujjara (MP) and
4. Nettur (AP).
Pillar Edicts
• There are seven pillar edicts.
• Two types of stones are used: spotted white sandstone (from Mathura) and buff coloured sandstone and
quartzite (from Amaravati). Generally, they are made of sandstone quarried from Chunar. They have
almost similar form and dimensions.
• All the pillars are monoliths (carved out of stone) and the surface is well polished.
• They have been found from different places like Kandahar (Afghanistan), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
(Pakistan), Delhi, Vaishali and Champaran (Bihar), Sarnath and Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh), Amaravati
(Andhra Pradesh), and Sanchi (Madhya Pradesh).
• Fragments of the same edict are found in different places.
• Many pillars are as high as 50 feet and weigh as much as 50 tons.
• They are devoid of bases and the cylindrical shaft tapers slightly upwards to a height of 12-14 m. A
cylindrical bolt joins the top of the shaft to the capital, and have a bell capital (a stone carved in the shape
of an inverted lotus).
• There is a platform (abacus) on the top of the bell capital which supports the crowned animal.
• The pillars depict animals such as elephants and lions and wheels and lotuses which are all significant
symbols in Buddhism.
• The majestic pillar edicts have been found at Topra, Rampurva, Nigali Sagar, Lauriya-Araraj, Lauriya
Nandangarh, Sarnath and Meerut. Feroz Shah Tughlaq shifted pillars, one from Topra and the other from
Meerut, to Delhi.
The following table gives the Pillar Edict number and what it talks about:
Edict Ashoka Inscription Details
Pillar
Ashoka’s principle of protecting his people.
Edict I
Pillar Defines Dhamma as minimum of sins, many virtues, compassion,
Edict II liberty, truthfulness and purity.
Pillar
Avoiding practices of cruelty, sin, harshness, pride and anger among
Edict
his subjects.
III
Pillar
Edict Responsibilities of the Rajukas.
IV
List of animals and birds that should not be killed on certain days.
Pillar Another list mentions animals that should never be killed. Describes
Edict V release of 25 prisoners. This pillar edict is also known as Delhi-
Topra Pillar Edict.
Pillar
Edict Dhamma policy of the State (welfare of the people).
VI
Pillar
Ashoka’s work for fulfilling Dhamma. Tolerance for all sects. Also,
Edict
about Dhamma Mahamattas.
VII
Other relevant inscriptions and important edicts:
Edict/ Inscription Remarks
• Ashoka asks the members of the Sangha to
Allahabad - refrain from causing division in the ranks.
Kosam/Queens • Samudragupta's inscription is on this edict
Edict/Kausambi or itself.
Schism Edict • Jahangir shifted it to the fort at Allahabad.
Kandahar Inscription It is a famous bilingual edict in Greek and Aramaic.
Kalinga Edicts (Bhauli
Mentions 'All men are my children.'
and Jaugada)
Sannati Inscription Site of all 14 major rock edicts as well as two
(Karnataka) separate Kalinga edicts.
It mentions that the village of Lumbini (birthplace of
Rummindei Inscription
the Buddha) be exempted from bali and was to pay
(Nepal)
only one-eighth of the bhaga.
Mentions the Sudarshan lake constructed by
Girnar Rock
Pushyagupta, a rashtriya (means provincial
Inscription of governor) of Saurashtra during Chandragupta
Rudradaman Maurya’s reign.
(Kathiawar)
Indicates that Ashoka turned towards Buddhism
Minor Rock Edict 1
gradually, after 2.5 years in power.
Ashoka greets Sangha, professes his deep faith in the
Minor Rock Edict 3 Buddha, dhamma, and Sangha, also recommends six
Buddhist texts for monks, nuns and general laity.
Inscriptions at
Shahbazgarhi and Written in Kharosthi script.
Mansehra.
Ashoka's Inscription Excerpt
Major Rock Edict VI
Beloved of the Gods speaks thus: Twelve years after my coronation I started to have Dhamma edicts
written for the welfare and happiness of the people, and so that not transgressing them they might grow
in the Dhamma. Thinking: “How can the welfare and happiness of the people be secured?” I give my
attention to my relatives, to those dwelling far, so I can lead them to happiness and then I act
accordingly. I do the same for all groups. I have honoured all religions with various honours. But I
consider it best to meet with people personally.
