Major Pillar Edict

Delhi-Meerut

Major Pillar Edict IV (Delhi -Mirath)

Major Pillar Edict IV (Delhi -Mirath Version)

Location: Major P.L. Pew in Prinsep 1837d: 795: “This very ancient Hindu pillar was dug out of some ruins near a boulee (baoli) or well, and was probably destroyed by the blowing up of a powder magazine which I understand once existed near the spot. It consists of five pieces, which when p…, Delhi, India
Date: c. 260–250 BCE
Script: Brahmi
Language: Prakrit
Type: Major Pillar Edict
Coordinates: 28.6333° N, 77.2000° E

Overview

Discovery of Delhi–Mirath Harry Falk, Asokan Sites and Artefacts, 181–183 Discovery/ History: Major P.L. Pew in Prinsep 1837d: 795: “This very ancient Hindu pillar was dug out of some ruins near a boulee (baoli) or well, and was probably destroyed by the blowing up of a powder magazine which I understand once existed near the spot. It consists of five pieces, which when put together measure 32 ¾ feet long: the diameter of the largest piece is 3 feet 2 inches, and that of the small-est 2 ½ feet. The total weight 372 maunds. (...) Since the fragments of this column have only been recently disinterred from the mass of ruin, evidently Hindu, where they had reposed in silence and darkness for ages.” Cunningham 1871i: 168: “According to popular belief, this pillar was thrown down by an accidental explosion of a powder magazine in the time of Farokhsir, who reigned from A.D. 1713 to 1719.” According to the report in the Ta’rikh-i Fīrūz-Shāhi by Shams-i-Sirāj Afif (Lewis 1850: 29) the pillar stood “near Meerut”, or “in the vicinity of Kusbah Meerut” (Cope/Lewis 1850: 73). Mīrath (UP) is sit-uated at 77°45’ E and 29°01’ N. Shams-i-Sirāj Afif’s report, at least that part of it that concerns…

Location

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The Inscription

Original Text

1 . . . . . . . . . .
2 . . . . . . . . . . [ka] caghaṁti [ā]lādha[y]i[tave]
3 . . . . . . . . . . tu asvathe [ho]ti
4 vi[ya] . . . . . . . . . . [l]i[ha]tave hev[aṁ mam]ā
5 [la]jūk[a] . . . . . . . . . . ye (J) yen[a] ete a[bh]itā
6 asvatha saṁ . . . . . . . . . . [pa]vataye[v]ā ti [e]te[na] me
7 [laj]ū[kā]n[aṁ] . . . . . . . . . . ata-patiye kaṭ[e]
8 (K) ichitavi . . . . . . . . . . [h]āla-samatā c[a] siyā
9 daṁḍa-sa[ma] . . . . . . . . . . [me] āvuti [ba]ṁdhana-[badh]ānaṁ
10 munisā[naṁ] . . . . . . . . . . vadhānaṁ tiṁni di[va]sāni [m]e
11 y[o]te diṁne (M) . . . . . . . . . . payisa[ṁ]ti j[i]v[i]tāye tāna[ṁ]
12 nāsaṁtaṁ [v]ā ni . . . . . . . . . . ti pālatikaṁ
13 u[pa]vāsaṁ vā k[a] . . . . . . . . . . hevaṁ niludhasi pi [k]ālasi
14 pā[la]taṁ ālādhay[e] . . . . . . . . . . vaḍhati vividhe dhamma-cal[a]ne
15 saṁyame dā[na] . . . . . . . . . .
Translation
(H) And these (agents) will also exhort those (people), in order that the Lajūkas may be able to please me.
(I) For, as one feels confident after having entrusted (his) child to an intelligent nurse, (thinking):‘The intelligent nurse will be able to keep my child well’, so the Lajūkas were appointed by me for the welfare and happiness of the country-people.
(J) In order that they should perform (their) duties, being fearless, confident, (and) unperturbed, for this (purpose) I have ordered that either rewards or punishments are left to the discretion of the Lajūkas.
(K) For the following is to be desired, (viz.) that there should be both impartiality in judicial proceedings and impartiality in punishments.
(L) And my order (reaches) even so far (that) a respite of three days is granted by me to persons lying in prison on whom punishment has been passed, (and) who have been condemned to death.
(M) (In this way) either (their) relatives will persuade  those (Lajūkas) to (grant) their life, or, if there is none who persuades (them), they will bestow gifts or will undergo fasts in order to (attain happiness) in the other (world).
(N) For my desire is this, that, even when the time (of respite) has expired, they should attain (happiness) in the other (world).
(O) And various moral practices, self-control, (and) the distribution of gifts are (thus) promoted among the people.