Major Rock Edict

Dhauli

Major Rock Edict - VIII (Dhauli)

Location: A first reading of some initial words was published by Prinsep 1837a: 471. Kittoe gave his report in 1838a: 435: “I had the good fortune to discover by the merest accident: a byragí priest, native of Mirzapoor near Benares having described it to me; such, however, is the aversion…, Odisha, India
Date: c. 260–250 BCE
Script: Brahmi
Language: Prakrit
Type: Major Rock Edict
Coordinates: 20.1833° N, 85.8333° E

Overview

Discovery of Dhauli 1. Asokan Sites and Artefacts - Harry Falk Page-113-114 Discovery: A first reading of some initial words was published by Prinsep 1837a: 471. Kittoe gave his report in 1838a: 435: “I had the good fortune to discover by the merest accident: a byragí priest, native of Mirzapoor near Benares having described it to me; such, however, is the aversion the Ooriyahs have, to our going near their places of worship, that I was actually decoyed away from the spot, when within a few yards of it, being assured that there was no such place,and had returned for a mile or more, when I met with a man who led me back to the spot by torch-light. I set fire to the jangal and perceived the inscription which was completely hidden by it.” Later, Kittoe went to the rock “before day-break and had to wait till it was light; for the two bear cubs which escaped me there last year,when I killed the old bear, were now full grown and disputed the ground” (1838b: 684). Today, all memory of bears once living in this area is gone. Kittoe (1838a: 451) reported an old name asvastama for the rocks with the inscriptions, but today nothing similar to asvastama has any meaning to the local population…

Location

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The Inscription

Original Text

1 (A) [atika]ṁ[ta]ṁ aṁt[ala]ṁ lāj[ā]n[e] v[i]h[ā]la yātaṁ nāma [n]i[kha]m[i]s[u] (B) . . [ta miga]viy[ā] a[ṁ]nāni c[a] edisāni a[bh]i[l]āmāni huvaṁti naṁ (C) se Devānaṁpiye
2 P[i]y[a]dasi lājā d[a]sa-[vas]ābhisi[t]e [n]ikhami Saṁbodh[i] (D) [t]e[na]ta dha[ṁma-yātā] (E) [tat]esa [ho]ti samana-bābhanānaṁ d[a]s[a]n[e] c[a] d[āne] ca v[u]ḍhānaṁ dasane ca
3 h[i]laṁna-p[a]ṭividhā[ne ca jāna]padasa janasa [dasa]ne ca dhaṁmānu[sath]ī [ca] . . . . . . [p]u[ch]ā ca [ta]d[o]payā (F) e[sā bhuy]e abhilāme hoti Devānaṁpiyasa Piyada[s]ine lājine bhāge [aṁ]ne

Translation

(A) In times past, kings used to set out on so-called pleasure-tours.
(B) On these (tours) hunting and other such pleasures were (enjoyed).
(C) But when king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin had been anointed ten years, he went out to Sambodhi.
(D) Therefore tours of morality (were undertaken) here.
(E) On these (tours) the following takes place, (viz.) visiting Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas and making gifts (to them), visiting the aged and supporting (them) with gold, visiting the people of the country, instructing (them) in morality, and questioning (them) about morality, as suitable for this (occasion).
(F) This second period (of the reign) of king Devānaṁpriya Priyadarśin becomes a pleasure in a higher degree.

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