The Cambridge History of India, Vol. I: Ancient India v1.c29.33

v1.c29.33

The name Açoka occurs in only one of the known inscriptions¹. Elsewhere the emperor employs (in conjunction with *rājā*, ‘king’) the official titles *devānām priya*, ‘dear to the gods,’ and *priyadarçana*, ‘of friendly mien.’ The former style—which in later ages the popular grumbling, so humorously common in India, as in other countries, diverted to the sense of ‘fool’—is known to have been employed by contemporary kings in Ceylon, and by Açoka’s grandson (or still more remote descendant) Daçaratha, so that it was probably normal; indeed Açoka himself once uses the plural in the sense practically of ‘kings.’ *Priyadarçin* also, which has been well rendered ‘gracious,’ may represent a customary view that the king should wear ‘a mild, pleasant, and composed aspect’². But it is certainly quite possible, as M. Senart suggests³, that it was adopted by Açoka as his ordination name.