Major Rock Edict

Ashokan Site

Major Rock Edict III (Mansehra Version)

Major Rock Edict III (Mansehra Version)

Location
Ashokan site
Date
c. 260–250 BCE
Script
Kharosthi
Language
Prakrit
Type
Major Rock Edict
Coordinates
Coordinates pending

Overview

Major Rock Edict III (Mansehra Version)

Ashokan Site site view
Ashokan Site

The Inscription

Original Text

9 (A) Devanapriye Priyadraśi raja eva a[ha] (B) duva[ḍa]śa-vaṣbhisetena me iyaṁ [aṇapayit]e (C) savrat[r]a vijitasi ta [ra]ju.. pradeśike [paṁ]caṣu paṁ[caṣu] 5 vaṣeṣ[u]
10 anusa[ṁ]yana[ṁ] nikramatu etaye va athraye imaye dhramanuśastiye ya[tha] añaye pi krama[ṇe] (D) [sadhu mata]-pi[tu]ṣu [s]u[śruṣa ṁitra]-sa[ṁ]stuta-
11 ñatikanaṁ ca bra[ma]ņa-śramaṇana[ṁ] sadhu dane praṇana [anara]bhe sadhu apa-[va]yata apa-bha[ḍata] sadhu (E) pariṣa pi ca yutani ga[ṇa]nasi [aṇapa] yiśa[ti] he[tute] ca vi[yaṁja]-
12 nate ca
Translation
(A) King Devanapriye Priyadraśi speaks (thus).
(B)  (when I had been) anointed [twelve] years, this was [ordered] by me.
(C)  Everywhere in my dominions the [Ra]ju(ka), (and) the pradeśike shall set out on a tour every five-5-years for this purpose, (viz) for the instruction in morality as well as other business.
(D) Meritorious is obedience to mother and father. [Liberality] to friends, acquaintances and relatives, to bra[ma]ṇa and śramaṇana[ṁ] [is meritorious]. Abstention from killing animals is meritorious. Small expenses (and) small accumulation are meritorious.
(E)  The councils (of Ministers) shall order to Yuktas to register (these rules) both with (the addition of) reasons and according to the letter.