Major Rock Edict

Ashokan Site

Major Rock Edict XI (Mansehra Version)

Major Rock Edict XI (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 XI (Mansehra Version)

Ashokan Site site view
Ashokan Site

The Inscription

Original Text

12 (A) Devanapri[y]e Priyadraśi raja evaṁ aha (B) nasti ediśe dane [a]diśe dhrama-dane dhrama-saṁtha[v]e dhrama-saṁvibhaga dhrama-sa[ṁ]ba[ṁ]dh[e] (C) tatra eṣe dasa-bhaṭa[ka]si samya-paṭipati mata-[pitu] ṣu su[śru] ṣa
13 mitra-saṁ[stuta]-ñatikana śramaṇa-bramaṇana dan[e] praṇana [ana]rabhe (D) [e] ṣe vataviye pituna pi putrena pi bhratuna pi spamike[na] pi mitra-saṁ[stu]t[e]na ava paṭiveśiyena
14 iyaṁ sa[dhu] iyaṁ kaṭaviye (E) se tatha karata[ṁ] hi[dalo]ke [ca] kaṁ aradhe ho[ti pa]ra[tra] ca ana[ṁ]taṁ puṇaṁ p[r]asavati te[na dhra]ma-danena
Translation
(A) King Devanapri[y]e Priyadraśi speaks thus.
(B)  There is no such gift as the gift of morality, acquaintance through morality, the distribution of morality, (and) kinship through morality.
(C)  Herein the following (are comprised), (viz.) proper courtesy to slaves and servants, obedience to mother and father, liberality to friends, acquaintances, and relatives, to Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas, (and) abstention from killing animals.
(D) Concerning this a father, or a son, or a brother, or a master, (or) a friend or an acquaintance, (or) even a (mere) neighbour, ought to say: 'This is meritorious. This ought to be done'.
(E)  If one is acting thus, he attains (happiness in) this world, and endless merit is produced in the other (world) by that gift of morality.