The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c8.2

c8.2

B.C. 250-237. [This is roughly the period of the inscriptions of Aśōka, the Maurya king of Magadha. They have been found engraved on rocks, in caves, and on pillars, in several places in India. Those that exist in the south are at Jaugada, 18 miles north of Ganjam, at Maski in Raichur District of the Nizam's Dominions, and in the neighbourhood of Siddhāpura in the Chitaldrug District of Mysore.¹ Aśōka's edicts were promulgated, and engraved on rocks and pillars after his complete conversion to the gentle teachings of Buddha in order that the principles therein inculcated might be instilled into the minds of generations yet to come. He revolted from the horrors of war and from the abominable system of government hitherto adopted and he fully recognized the duty of a sovereign to his people. Want of space prevents any insertion here of long extracts from his edicts, but a few may be given. In Rock Edict XIII he mentions the slaughter and captivity of the people of Kalinga caused by his war with that country and states that now this was ‘a matter of profound sorrow and regret to his sacred majesty . . . if now a thousandth part were to suffer the same fate it would be a matter of regret to [him].’ . . . ‘Even upon the forest folk in his dominions his majesty looks kindly.’ . . . ‘He desires that all persons should have security, and peace of mind.’ . . . ‘He exhorts his successors to take pleasure in patience and gentleness. He asserts, as a principle of good government by a sovereign that “all men are my children.”’ He declares himself “ready to do the people's business in all places”, the welfare of all folk is what I must work for’ and so on.