The Mauryan Polity c10.s2.t4.2

c10.s2.t4.2

This has been rendered by Hultzsch in his translation thus: "Now in times past (officers) called mahāmātras of morality did not exist before. But mahāmātras of morality were appointed by me (when I had been) anointed thirteen years." This interpretation has also been generally accepted. The words 'no' and 'na' may equate and mean 'indeed', 'now', etc. Hence the first line may be translated "In times past officers called dharma-mahāmātras indeed existed." What Aśoka apparently wants to make out is that this office which once existed did not exist during the period of his first thirteen years. He perhaps felt the necessity for such office and appointed special officers. In the light of the *Arthaśāstra* where there is evidence of a similar office, with most of the functions as found in the Edicts assigned to it, the interpretation that it did not exist before seems to be incorrect.