The Mauryan Polity c11.s1.t2.37

c11.s1.t2.37

Thus the practice of *dharma* involved virtuous qualities of *dayā* or sympathy,¹² *dāna* or gifts, *satya* or truthfulness¹³ *śaucam* or purity of mind and body,¹⁴ mārdavam or kindliness,¹ sādhutā or goodness,² apavyayatā and apabhandata or economy in expenditure and in saving,³ samyama or restraint of the senses,⁴ bhāvaśuddhi or honesty of purpose,⁵ kṛtajñatā or gratefulness,⁶ dṛḍhabahktitā or abiding loyalty⁷ and dharmarati or morality in act and deed.⁸ To these are added also dharma-kāmatā or a desire to act righteously, parīkṣā or confidence in ones' own self, śusrūṣā or dutifulness, bhaya or fear of wrong action, and utsāha or enthusiasm.⁹ While the positive aspect of Aśoka's dharma consisted in doing good things,¹⁰ the negative aspect constituted in apariśravam or not doing evil deeds¹¹ generally caused by a host of dispositions like rage, cruelty, wrath, pride, and envy.¹²