Public Administration in Ancient India c10.23

c10.23

¹ “Vayaṁ Pāṇḍava-jyeṣṭham abhiṣiñcāmaḥ,” Ādi Parva, Sec. 141, śl. 27. And again, in śl. 32, Duryodhana tells Dhritarāṣṭra : “The citizens want Pāṇḍava (i.e. Yudhishthira) as their lord, passing over you and Bhīṣma.” From the Mahāvamsa account it seems that Asoka was not the eldest son of Bindusāra ; but, as he stood high above his brothers “in valour, splendour, might and wondrous powers,” he succeeded in raising himself to the throne. Vide Mahāvamsa (Geiger), Ch. V. The Mahāvamsa story, however, is not worthy of credence in all details.