Short notes on the Minor Rock Edicts

The first section has the Minor Rock Edict, the Queen’s Edict, the Barabar Cave inscriptions and the Kandahar bilingual inscriptions. The section of in­scriptions related to the Buddhists or the community of Buddhists comprises the Bhabra Inscription, the Rummindei Pillar Inscription, the Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription and the Schism Edict (Kausambi Edict).

Location The Minor Rock Edict is spread on rocks at 13 places: (i) Bairat (42 miles north-east of Jaipur in Rajasthan)-identified with Virata; (ii) Brahmagiri-said to be one of the southern outposts of the Mauryan kingdom; (iii) Gavimath (in Mysore- a region specifically associated with this edict); (iv) Gujarra (near Jhansi in Datia district)-probably on a very important route; (v) Jatinga-Rameshwar (three miles from Brahmagiri)-probably had been a place of religious interest; (vi) Maski (in Raichur district, Karnataka); (vii) Palkigundu (four miles from Gavimath)-belongs to Brahmagiri group; (viii) Rajula- Mandagiri (two miles from Paltikonda in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh); (ix) Rupanath (on Kaimur hills near Saleemabad in Madhya Pradesh)-the site may have been of religious significance; (x) Sahasram (92 miles from Patna, in Shahabad district of Bihar)- near the town of Sahasram, probably an outpost of Magadha then; (xi) Siddapur (a mile to the west of Brahmagiri and three miles south of the inscription at Jatinga-Rameshwar); (xii) Suvamagiri (town of Kanakagiri, south of Maski, Raichur district, Karnataka)-capital of the southern province of the empire; and (xiii) Yerragudi (on the southern border of Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh).

The Queen’s Edict was located at Allahabad- Kosam. The Barabar inscriptions have been found at Barabar hill caves on the hills around Rajagriha city and these were probably donated to the Ajivikas.

The Kandahar bilingual Greek-Aramaic Inscription is located at Shar-i-Quna (in southern Afghanistan).

The Bhabra Edict has been found at Bairat in Rajasthan, the Rummindei Pillar Inscription near the shrine of Rummindei (ancient name, Lumbini) within the border of Nepal.

The Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription (believed to be originally located a few miles from Kapilavastu, but now near Rummindei), and the three versions of the Schism Edict-one version probably originally located at Kausambi and the other two at Sanchi and Sarnath.

The Kausambi version was later inscribed on by Samudragupta. Jahangir is thought to be responsible for its removal to Allahabad.

Minor Rock Edict (a conflation of the various versions) From Suvarnagiri, on the order of His Highness the Prince, and the officers. Good health to the officers of Isila who are to be instructed thus. Thus speaks the Beloved of the Gods, Asoka.

I have been a Buddhist layman for more than two and a half years, but for a year I did not make much progress. Now for more than a year I have drawn closer to the Order and have become more ardent.

The Gods, who in India up to this time did not associate with men, now mingle with them, and this is the result of my efforts.

Moreover, this is not something to be obtained only by the great, but it is also open to the humble, if they are earnest and they can even reach heaven easily.

This is the reason for this announcement-that both humble and great should make progress and that the neighbouring peoples also should know that the progress is lasting. And this investment will increase and increase abundantly, and increase to half as much again.

This matter must be inscribed here and elsewhere on the hills, and wherever there is a stone pillar it is to be engraved on that pillar.

You must go out with this document throughout the length and breadth of your district. This announcement has been pro­claimed while on tour; 256 nights have been spent on tour.

Thus says the Beloved of the Gods. Whatever the Beloved of the Gods orders must be carried out in every respect. The rajuka (rural officer) is to be instructed and he will instinct the people of the countryside, assembling them with the sound of (he drum; likewise the local chiefs.

‘Obey mother and father, obey the teachers; have mercy on living beings; speak the truth. These virtues of Dhamma should be followed.’

Thus you will instruct them on the orders of the Beloved of the Gods, and also you will ensure that elephant trainers, clerks, fortune-tellers, and brahmans instruct their apprentices according to ancient tradition, that they should honour their masters righteous masters. In a family, relatives must treat each other with respect.

This is the ancient custom, conducive to long life, and thus it must be carried out. Carved by the engraver Capada.

The Queen’s Edict On the order of the Beloved of the Gods, the officers everywhere are to be instructed that whatever may be the gift of the second queen, whether a mango-grove, a monastery, an institution for dispensing charity or any other donation, it is to be counted to the credit of that queen the second queen, the mother of Tivala, Karuvaki.

Barabar Cave Inscriptions I. King Piyadassi, when he had been consecrated twelve years, gave the Banyan Cave to the Ajivikas II.

King Piyadassi, when he had been consecrated twelve years, gave this cave on the Khalatika Mountain to the Ajivikas. III. King Piyadassi, consecrated since nineteen years.

Kandahar Bilingual Rock Inscription (Greek version) ten years being completed King Piyadassi showed piety (i.e. Dhamma) to men. And from that time (onwards) he made men more pious.

And all things prosper throughout the whole world. And the king refrains from (eating) living beings, and indeed other men and whosoever (were) the king’s hunts­men and fishermen have ceased from hunting, and those who were without control (over themselves) have ceased as far as possible from their lack of (self-) control, and (have become) obedient to father and mother and to elders, such as was not the case before. And in future, doing all these things, they will live more agreeably and better than before.

(Aramaic version) Ten years having passed, our Lord King Piyadassi, decided to instruct men in Dhamma. Since then, evil among men has diminished in the world. Among those who have suffered it has disappeared, and there is joy and peace in the whole world.

And even in another matter, that which concerns eating, our Lord the king kills very few animals. Seeing this rest of the people have also ceased from killing animals. Even those who catch fish, their activity have been prohibited.

Similarly those that were without restraint have now learnt restraint. Obedience to mother and father, and elders, and conformity with the obligations implied in this, is now in practice. There are no more trials for men of piety. Thus the practice of Dhamma is of value to all men, and it will continue to be so.

Bhabra Inscription The king of Magadha, Piyadassi, greets the Order and wishes it prosperity and freedom from care. You know Sirs, how deep is my respect for and faith in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Samgha.

Sirs, whatever was spoken by the Lord Buddha was well spoken. And Sirs, allow me to tell you what I believe contributes to the long survival of the Buddhist Dhamma.

These sermons on Dhamma, Sirs-the Excellence of the Discipline, the Lineage of the Noble One, the Future Fears, the Verses of the Sage, the Sutra of Silence, the Questions of Upatissa, and the Admonition spoken by the Lord Buddha to Rahula on the subject of false speech.

These sermons on the Dhamma, Sirs, I desire that many monks and nuns should hear frequently and meditate upon, and likewise laymen and laywomen.

I am having this engraved Sirs, so that you may know what I desire.

Reminded Pillar Inscription the Beloved of the Gods, King Piyadassi, when he had been consecrated twenty years, came in person and reverenced the place where Buddha Sakyamuni was born.

He caused a stone enclosure to be made and a stone pillar to be erected. As the Lord was born here in the village of Luinbini, he has exempted it from tax, and fixed its contribution (i.e., of grain) at one-eighth.

No one is to cause dissention in the order. The Order of monks and nuns has been united, and this unity should last for as long as my sons and great grandsons, and the moon and the sun.

Whoever creates a schism in the Order, whether monk or nun, is to be dressed in white garments, and to be put in a place not inhabited by monks or nuns. For it is my wish that the Order should remain united and endure for long.

This is to be made known to the Order of monks and the Order of nuns. Thus says the Beloved of the Gods. You must keep one copy of this document and place it in your meeting hall, and give one copy to the laity.

The laymen must come on every uposatha day (day of confession and penance) to endorse this order. The same applies to special officers who must also regularly attend the uposatha, and endorse this order, and make it known.

Throughout your district you must circulate it exactly according to this text. You must also have this precise text circulated in all the fortress districts (under military control).