Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c15.s1.t6: Benevolent Activity, Promotion of the Welfare of Man and Beast
Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c15.s1.t6
- Language
- English
Benevolent Activity, Promotion of the Welfare of Man and Beast
c15.s1.t6.1
Aśoka abolished the sacrificial slaughter of animals, offensive *Samājas* and the massacre of living creatures to make curries in the imperial kitchen. Rock Edict VIII refers to the abolition of the *vihāra-yātrās* or tours of pleasure in which hunting and other similar amusements used to be practised. Pillar Edict V contains a code of regulations¹ restricting the slaughter and mutilation of animals. Dr. Smith points out that the prohibitions against animal slaughter in this edict coincide to a considerable extent with those recorded in the *Arthaśāstra*.
c15.s1.t6.2
¹ *Dhamma-niyama*, cf. Patañjali I, I, I.
c15.s1.t6.3
The emperor established healing arrangements in two kinds, namely, healing arrangements for men and healing arrangements for beasts. Medicinal herbs also both for men and for beasts, wheresoever lacking, were imported and planted. Roots also and fruits,² wheresoever lacking, were imported and planted. On the roads wells were dug probably at intervals of 8 *kos*, flights of steps built for descending into the water, and banyan trees and mango groves planted for the enjoyment of man and beast.
c15.s1.t6.4
² *Cf.* reference to figs in Bindusāra's correspondence with Antiochos.
c15.s1.t6.5
Pillar Edict VII refers to the employment of superior officers (*Mukhyas*) in the distribution of alms, both the emperor's own and those of the queens and princes. One of the Minor Pillar Edicts refers to the donations of the second Queen Kāruvākī,³ mother of Tīvara: "whatever gift has been given here by the second Queen—be it a mango-garden, or pleasure-grove (*ārāma*) or alms-house (*dānagṛiha*) or aught else—is reckoned as proceeding from that queen."
c15.s1.t6.6
³ Dr. Barua suggests the identification of this lady with Asandhimittā of the *Mahāvaṁsa* and the *Sumaṅgalavilāsinī* (*Indian Culture*, I, 123). The suggestion, though ingenious, is hardly convincing.
c15.s1.t6.7
Mention may also be made of remission of taxes by the emperor himself, *e.g.*, in Lumminigāma, and money-grants (*hiraṇṇapaṭividhāna*) to old men. The people of *janapadas* (districts), doubtless including the *grāmas*¹ (villages), were also sought to be benefited by the grant of autonomy and the establishment of uniformity of punishment and procedure (*daṇḍasamatā* and *vyāvahārasamatā*) as well as diffusion of moral instruction (*dhramanusasti*).
c15.s1.t6.8
¹ References to *grāmas* are found in the compounds *Lummini-gāma* and *āma-kapota* (Pillar Edict V).
Cites (6)
- Kauṭilīya Arthaśāstra — Kauṭilya, Sanskrit
- Mahāvaṃsa — Pāli
- Minor Pillar Edicts
- Pillar Edict V — Prakrit
- Pillar Edict VII — Prakrit
- Major Rock Edict VIII — Prakrit